The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center Relocates to Chandler Park

After 13 years in its Greenwood Mall location, The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center will begin operations in a new facility in Chandler Park beginning Monday, December 19. The new Health & Wellness Center is located at 1857 Tucker Way off Cave Mill Road and is housed in the building adjacent to Chandler Park Dental, the office of Eli Jackson, D.M.D.

“The change in location of The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center is reflective of the growth we have experienced in recent years,” said Linda Rush, Director of Community Wellness for The Medical Center. “The Center has become a destination point for patrons rather than just mall shoppers stopping by. We are seeing more and more patrons being referred to us by their healthcare providers for our services.”

The Center offers educational classes, exercise classes, blood pressure checks, health screenings, support group meetings and a lending health library. Specialized services offered by physician referral include the Diabetes Education Program, Medical Nutrition Therapy and the Healthy Weight Program for Kids.

Since opening in 1998, over 200,000 patrons have visited the Center and benefited from the many services offered. Currently, the Center averages 1,400 patron visits each month.

The Center is staffed by registered nurses, dietitians and health educators. The new hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call (270) 745-0942 or (877) 800-3842.

Phase 1 of Renovation to First Floor Main Corridor of The Medical Center to Begin December 1

Beginning Thursday, December 1, renovation of The Medical Center’s first floor main corridor will begin. Cosmetic updates such as new flooring, rails and paint as well as modernization of public bathrooms will be included in the renovation. The renovation will be divided into three phases to minimize inconvenience for patients and visitors and to ensure that alternate access routes are available throughout the project. Completion of the entire project is expected in early May.

Phase 1 is estimated to last from December 1 through January 11. During this phase, two public entrances will be closed.

The Outpatient Entrance located on Park Street will be closed. All patient registration normally completed in Outpatient will be moved to the Diagnostic Imaging Center Registration. Patients and visitors coming to The Medical Center for the following services or procedures should use the Diagnostic Imaging entrance located on the High Street side of the campus.

• Inpatient Registration
  
• Endoscopy
  
• Lab
  
• Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs
  
• Private Referral
  
• Cardiopulmonary Rehab
  
• Wound Management
  
• Lactation Consultations
  

Temporary parking will be designated in the back of the ER parking lot across the street from the Diagnostic Imaging Center on High Street.

The side entrance to the hospital on 2nd Avenue side of campus will be closed. Patients and visitors should enter the hospital through the main entrance of The Medical Center on Park Street.

Two other sections within the main corridor will be closed for renovation. Signage will be posted to direct patients and visitors through alternate routes.

Surgical Weight Loss Program Now Available at The Medical Center

The Medical Center is now offering the Surgical Weight Loss Program, the first surgery program to treat severe obesity in Southcentral Kentucky. With this new service, patients will no longer have to travel outside the region for minimally-invasive weight loss surgery.

“Obesity is a serious health risk that can lead to a wide range of chronic health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea and more,” said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation, the parent company of The Medical Center. “The Medical Center Surgical Weight Loss Program will address this growing national problem and help severely obese patients in Southcentral Kentucky improve their health and quality of life.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity rates have rapidly increased over the last 25 years. It is estimated that over 30 percent of Kentucky’s population is obese. Patients are considered obese if their body mass index (BMI), which takes into account a person’s height and weight, is over 30. Severely obese is defined as a BMI of 35 to 39.9 and morbidly obese as a BMI over 40.

For a patient to be a candidate for weight loss surgery, they must meet specific criteria. A candidate must have a BMI of 40 or more. A BMI of 35 may qualify if other high-risk conditions exist, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Nonsurgical treatments such as dietary programs, behavior modification and exercise have been unsuccessful for the candidate. A candidate must fully understand the surgery, its benefits and risks; be willing to make lifestyle changes to diet and exercise; and, commit to medical follow-up.

The Medical Center worked with John S. Oldham, Jr., M.D., FACS, FASMBS and G. Derek Weiss, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, bariatric surgeons with Bluegrass Bariatric Surgical Associates (BBSA) to establish the Surgical Weight Loss Program. BBSA is a leader in minimally-invasive weight loss surgery, having established successful weight loss surgery programs throughout Kentucky.

“The goal of bariatric surgery is to live better, healthier, and longer,” said Dr. John Oldham. “The technically advanced, experienced surgeons at Bluegrass Bariatrics feel strongly that surgery for the debilitating, chronic disease of morbid obesity should be performed in the safest, least invasive means possible. That is why we perform all of our bariatric procedures laparoscopically, a technically challenging minimally-invasive method proven to have less complications than traditional ‘open’ bariatric surgical procedures.”

The Medical Center Surgical Weight Loss Program offers a variety of minimally-invasive surgery options including Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band, Gastric Sleeve and ROSE procedure. Each option limits the amount of food a person can eat or decreases the absorption of food, and some options do both.

Because surgery is just one component of a successful weight loss strategy, patients can expect up to six months of preparation before surgery takes place. Surgery is supported by a comprehensive program that includes nutritional counseling, psychological counseling and support group meetings.

Understanding the various surgery options, the benefits and risks, and the program requirements are essential for a weight loss surgery candidate. Free informational seminars are held each month in The Medical Center Auditorium. A bariatric surgeon discusses the surgery options and program components, and an insurance specialist is available to discuss costs, insurance coverage and financing options. The next seminar will be held on Tuesday, November 22 at 6 p.m. Participants can register online at www.TheMedicalCenter.org or call 270-796-6333.

Capital Campaign Goal for the Hospitality House Met and Exceeded

Commonwealth Health Foundation has announced the completion of its first capital campaign, raising over $3.8 million for the construction and opening of the Hospitality House on The Medical Center campus. The success of the campaign was made possible through the support of individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Southcentral Kentucky.

"We are grateful to those in our community who made the dream of opening the Hospitality House a reality," said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation. "Families of critically ill patients being cared for at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital now have a place where they can rest and re-charge between visits to a loved one."

"This beautiful facility is a testament of your faith in our mission and of your generosity to our community," said Mike Murphy, Chairman of the Extending Home Capital Campaign Steering Committee, during a special open house for donors held June 21. "From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say thank you."

In January 2010, Commonwealth Health Foundation announced the Extending Home Capital Campaign with a goal of raising $3 million to cover the costs to construct and furnish the Hospitality House and establish an endowment to ensure ongoing operation. Construction began in April 2010 with completion in December. The Hospitality House opened to guests in January.

In addition to 12 private guestrooms and baths, the Hospitality House features a large kitchen and dining room to accommodate multiple families, a prayer room, a community room with comfortable furnishings, and a business center with computers and internet access. There is not a charge to stay at the Hospitality House; however, donations to help support the operation of the Hospitality House are gratefully accepted.

"While this is a great achievement for our community, please know that the Foundation will continue to solicit funds to build the endowment," said Murphy. "The Hospitality House is a wonderful addition to our community and will need our continued support."

To learn more about the Hospitality House and how you can help support ongoing operations, contact Commonwealth Health Foundation at (270) 796-5543 or visit www.hospitalityhousebg.org.

Kosair Children’s Hospital with University of Louisville Pediatrics Opens New Outpatient Center on Campus of The Medical Center in Bowling Green

Outpatient center features pediatric specialists to serve children closer to home

The Medical Center, Kosair Children’s Hospital and University of Louisville Pediatrics announced today the opening of Kosair Children’s Outpatient Center – Bowling Green. Pediatric specialists from University of Louisville Pediatrics are staffing the center, located in the Commonwealth Medical Plaza on the campus of the hospital.

“The opening of this special space on the campus of The Medical Center allows us to treat children in their own community, help keep families together and closer to home and, at the same time, it ensures that we can provide the special kind of care that’s Just for Kids,” said Thomas D. Kmetz, president of Kosair Children’s Hospital.

Approximately two dozen physicians from University of Louisville Pediatrics will see patients in the new facility in Bowling Green. The outpatient center will offer the expertise of pediatricians specializing in endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology and pulmonology.

“This is an example of a true collaboration with the shared goal of increasing children’s access to specialty medical care,” said Josh Honaker, M.D., FAAP, chief, University of Louisville Division of General Pediatrics. “Our physician practices are excited by the opportunity to see patients in this new location.”

To learn more about pediatric specialty services available in Bowling Green, call 270-793-9803.

About Kosair Children’s Hospital and Kosair Children’s Medical Center – Brownsboro

For more than a century, Kosair Children’s Hospital and its predecessor hospitals have cared for the children of Kentucky and Southern Indiana without regard to their families’ ability to pay. Kosair Children’s Hospital is Kentucky’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric care facility dedicated exclusively to caring for children and is an advocate for the health and well-being of all children. The 263-bed hospital, supported by the Children’s Hospital Foundation serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 2007, Kosair Children’s received the prestigious Magnet designation recognizing excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The hospital also received national attention in 2009 and 2010 when it was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in pulmonary care. More information about Kosair Children’s Hospital is available at KosairChildrens.com.

About University of Louisville Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the University of Louisville School of Medicine's largest clinical departments, with more than 150 faculty members in 21 clinical divisions. The department’s clinical faculty oversees the vast majority of general and subspecialty medical care at Kosair Children's Hospital. The UofL Department of Pediatrics is also home to four highly regarded research units:Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Kosair Charities Pediatric Clinical Research Unit; Child Development Unit and the Pediatric Clinical Trials Unit.

March of Dimes Grant Supports Parents of Premature Infants Born at The Medical Center

The March of Dimes Greater Kentucky Chapter has awarded a $7,500 grant to The Medical Center at Bowling Green to support the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parent peer support group. The group, named NICU P.E.A.S. (Parent Encouragement And Support), enables parents of NICU babies to talk to and share their feelings with a “support parent” who has been in a similar situation. The Medical Center’s project is one of only four projects funded throughout the state by the March of Dimes grant.

“The March of Dimes Greater Kentucky Chapter is very excited to have this opportunity to support this project, which has the potential to have a significant impact on the health of mothers and babies in Southcentral Kentucky,” said Katrina Thompson, Director of Program Services for March of Dimes. The Medical Center also received a March of Dimes community grant award in 2010 that helped create the NICU P.E.A.S. group.

The support parent visits with parents of the preemie or sick newborn during the mother’s hospital stay to see what they can do to provide needed emotional support. At the request of the parents of the newborn, the support parent arranges to spend additional time with the new parents. The support parents and the nursing staff combine efforts to help parents cope and maintain healthy attitudes to nurture their newborn during the hospital stay. Additionally, the group hosts support meetings every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in The Medical Center Medical Conference Room to help new parents adjust to their situation.

“Over the past year, we have seen first hand the success of the NICU P.E.A.S. group in providing parents with needed support during such an emotional time,” said Amber Herman, OB Clinical Manager for The Medical Center. “The personal experience that a support parent brings to the table can make a world of difference for the parents of a premature or ill newborn. The March of Dimes grant will allow us to grow this program and provide this opportunity for support to even more parents.”

About The Medical Center
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the flagship hospital for Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Located in Bowling Green, Ky., The Medical Center is a 337-bed, full service, not-for-profit hospital specializing in heart, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, and orthopaedic services. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities including The Medical Center at Bowling Green contributed $50.4 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2010. The Medical Center treats patients regardless of their ability to pay and annually provides millions in community benefit through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.

About The March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes website at www.marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language website at www.nacersano.org.

The Medical Center's Cancer Program Accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at The Medical Center. The Medical Center received a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which The Medical Center demonstrated a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement). In addition, the facility received a compliance rating for all other standards.

The Medical Center earned its first CoC accreditation in 2004. The Medical Center provides Southcentral Kentucky with the most comprehensive cancer program including an on-site radiation treatment center with the most advanced technology, as well as chemotherapy and surgical services. The Medical Center also offers an extensive range of health and wellness programs for the community, focused on increasing awareness of the importance of prevention, early detection, and treatment options.

The CoC is dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. The Accreditation Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain accreditation, The Medical Center must undergo an on-site review every three years.

Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:

• comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
  
• a multispecialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
  
• information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
  
• access to cancer-related information, education, and support
  
• a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow up
  
• ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
  
• quality care close to home
  

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 1.5 million cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2010. There are currently more than 1,400 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. This 25 percent of hospitals diagnose and/or treat 71 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients every year.

Kohl’s Grant Supports The Medical Center’s Newborn Care & Safety Program

The Medical Center will reach more expectant parents with vital obstetrics education classes thanks to a grant from Kohl’s Cares®. Kohl’s has awarded Commonwealth Health Foundation a $26,005 grant to be used for The Medical Center’s Newborn Care and Safety Class which teaches expectant parents essential baby care skills.

“The Newborn Care and Safety Class is one of the most important classes that expectant parents can take as they prepare for the birth of their child,” said Amber Herman, OB Clinical Manager for The Medical Center. “The class allows expectant parents to feel more confident and comfortable caring for their newborn.”

The Newborn Care and Safety Class is a free, hands-on class where participants use baby dolls to practice swaddling and holding a newborn, diapering and giving the baby a bath. A variety of safety issues are addressed, and a CPR demonstration shows parents what to do in an emergency.

The Kohl’s grant will enable The Medical Center to offer more classes throughout the year. Currently 23 Newborn Care and Safety Classes are scheduled at The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center in 2011. Other locations are currently being researched to expand the classes to other areas of the community. The Kohl’s grant also funds the purchase of safety tote bags for expectant parents who take part in the Newborn Care and Safety class. The tote bags, which include items such as a DNA identification kit, bath water temperature tester, infant CPR memo board, and baby safety gift set, are provided to parents at no cost.

The Medical Center is the local Kohl’s Cares® beneficiary. Since 2005, Kohl’s has donated more than $100,000 to The Medical Center to support its health and wellness programs including construction of two community walking trails at local elementary schools.

Kohl's commitment to Commonwealth Health Foundation and The Medical Center is made possible through the Kohl's Cares® philanthropic initiative. Kohl’s Cares® includes a merchandise program featuring $5 books and plush toys where 100% of net profits benefiting health and educational opportunities for children nationwide. Since 2000 when Kohl’s Cares® was introduced, Kohl's has raised more than $150 million dollars through its merchandise program. In addition to its hospital partnerships, Kohl's Cares includes Kohl’s Cares® scholarship program, Kohl's Associates in Action program, and fundraising cards for local schools and nonprofit youth organizations.