The Medical Center Acquires Caverna Memorial Hospital

Caverna Memorial Hospital, which has served the residents of Hart and surrounding counties since 1967, will become The Medical Center at Caverna effective January 1. The Medical Center at Caverna will continue to operate as a 25-bed, not-for-profit critical access hospital and provide needed access to healthcare for area residents.

On August 24, The Medical Center and Caverna Memorial Hospital announced that the boards of directors for both hospitals agreed to the acquisition by the Bowling Green – Warren County Community Hospital Corporation d/b/a The Medical Center with the transaction targeted for completion by the end of 2015. The Medical Center is a 337-bed, not-for-profit regional referral hospital located in Bowling Green.

With the addition of The Medical Center at Caverna to its family of hospitals, Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), the parent company of The Medical Center, now operates five acute care hospitals in Southcentral Kentucky including The Medical Centers at Bowling, Scottsville and Franklin and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. CHC employs over 3,300 healthcare workers with a medical staff that includes over 300 physicians.

Two of CHC’s hospitals, The Medical Center at Franklin and The Medical Center at Scottsville, are critical access hospitals like The Medical Center at Caverna. “We recognize the importance of critical access hospitals and the significant role they play in providing local residents in rural communities with access to quality medical care,” said Connie Smith, President and CEO of The Medical Center and CHC. “We have been very successful in operating two critical access hospitals, and we look forward to bringing our experience to Hart County as we expand services and enhance the quality of care for area residents.”

“We are proud to become part of The Medical Center’s healthcare system and look forward to what the future holds for healthcare in Hart County,” said Alan Alexander, Vice President and Administrator of The Medical Center at Caverna. “Caverna Memorial Hospital has served the residents of Hart and surrounding counties well over the past 48 years, and we can rest assured that starting this new chapter in our history as The Medical Center at Caverna will mean great things for the communities we serve.”

Medical Center Primary Care Now Open, Accepting Patients

Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), parent company of The Medical Center, opened Medical Center Primary Care on September 1 to expand the availability of primary care physicians in Southcentral Kentucky. Medical Center Primary Care is located at 1901 Scottsville Road, across from Edmonton State Bank at light #5.

“An extreme shortage of physicians who specialize in internal medicine and family practice is affecting access to primary care services for patients in Southcentral Kentucky,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation. Recent studies indicate that Bowling Green and surrounding communities have a combined need for up to 30 additional primary care physicians. “Primary care physicians play a vital role in the healthcare delivery system. They provide continuing care throughout a patient’s adult life, including diagnosis and treatment of acute illness, management of chronic conditions, preventive care such as screenings and immunizations, and coordination of care with specialists.”

The first physician to join Medical Center Primary Care is Mabel Alvarez, M.D. Dr. Alvarez completed her medical degree from Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. She completed residency programs at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, Florida and Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Most recently she was in private practice in New York, New York.

Rima Desai, M.D. will begin October 15. She earned her medical degree at Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. She completed post graduate training in Internal Medicine at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York. She relocates to Bowling Green from Bellevue, Kentucky where she practiced at Healthpoint Family Care.

A third physician, Maya Khoukaz, M.D., will join the practice in January 2016. Dr. Khoukaz earned her medical degree from American University of Beirut in Lebanon. She completed residency training at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri and Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She presently works at Veterans Affairs in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Medical Center Primary Care sees adult patients. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 270-901-0629.

The Medical Center EMS Receives American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award

The Medical Center EMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a STEMI, or ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.

Unfortunately, a significant number don't receive this prompt treatment. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency responders for their efforts in improving STEMI systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.

Emergency Medical Service providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies provide access to 12-lead ECG machines (devices that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat and can help medical personnel determine if a heart attack has occurred), and follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. The correct tools and training allow EMS providers to rapidly identify the STEMI, promptly notify The Medical Center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.

Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Silver award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for the entire year, and treat at least eight STEMI patients for the year.

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud The Medical Center EMS for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

“Medical Center EMS is dedicated to making our unit among the best in the country,” said Randy Fathbruckner, Director Medical Center EMS. “The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving STEMI systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all STEMI patients. We are pleased to be recognized for our staff’s dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for STEMI patients.”

The Medical Center EMS is also one of only two emergency services in Kentucky accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). This means The Medical Center EMS meets a higher standard in the areas of training, safety and compliance requirements.

About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org/missionlifeline and heart.org/quality.

The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center Receives Top Honors For Stroke Education and Prevention

The Norton Healthcare/UK HealthCare - Stroke Care Network has presented The Medical Center with the 2015 "Interstellar Award" for its work in improving stroke prevention and care for its patients. The Medical Center’s Health & Wellness Center screened and educated more than 600 children and adults about stroke, making its community outreach the highest in the Stroke Care Network.

At the Stroke Care Network’s annual summit, Dr. Michael Dobbs, Director of the Stroke Care Network, commended The Medical Center for outstanding work in educating their community about stroke prevention and care. "The Medical Center’s commitment to quality improvement and coordination of resources to provide their patients with the highest quality stroke care is to be commended," Dr. Dobbs said. "Everyone's goal is to provide the best care for stroke patients as close to home as possible and The Medical Center’s efforts embody that principle."

Bill Singletary, RN, The Medical Center’s Director of Care Coordination and Stroke Program Coordinator, said, “The Medical Center’s Health & Wellness team, led by Director Jenny Golden, truly exemplifies our mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. Using evidence-based educational and screening resources for adults and children, their focus is on stroke awareness, personalized risk assessments, stroke prevention strategies, prompt recognition of the signs and symptoms of stroke and activation of 9-1-1 at the first sign of a stroke. As a certified Primary Stroke Center, we are so proud that our Health & Wellness Center team has been recognized for their commitment to stroke education, community outreach, and saving lives.”

The Stroke Care Network’s Director of education and quality, Lisa Bellamy, RN, CPHQ, notes that The Medical Center has made enormous strides in community education related to stroke prevention, recognition and treatment. “The Medical Center already had a well-established community outreach program, but when they joined the Network they enhanced their current process with the Network’s Stroke Community, Outreach, Prevention and Education (SCOPE) program. The SCOPE program offers three approaches to educate citizens about stroke: Stroke Screenings, Adult lectures and a pediatric program called The Brain Protector program.”

“The Medical Center has demonstrated a strong commitment to their community through affording dedicated resources to their outreach program,” Bellamy continued. “Despite being one of the newest hospitals in the Stroke Care Network, the Health & Wellness Center exceeded all other affiliates in the Network with regards to the number of individuals screened and educated about stroke during the last year.”

As an affiliate in the Stroke Care Network, The Medical Center has direct access to Norton Healthcare and UK HealthCare’s expertise and resources to support ongoing efforts locally to provide the best care for stroke for their citizens.

If you would like to schedule a SCOPE program activity or other health education event, please contact The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center at 270-745-0942 or 877-800-3824.

Caverna Memorial Hospital Set to Join The Medical Center

Caverna Memorial Hospital, which has served the citizens of Hart and surrounding counties since 1967, will become The Medical Center at Caverna in a move announced today by the hospital and The Medical Center in Bowling Green. The boards of directors for Caverna Memorial Hospital and The Medical Center have agreed to the acquisition by the Bowling Green – Warren County Community Hospital Corporation d/b/a The Medical Center and the transaction should be completed by the end of 2015. With the addition of Caverna Memorial Hospital to its family of hospitals, Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), the parent company of The Medical Center, will operate five acute care hospitals in Southcentral Kentucky and will employ over 3,300 healthcare workers with a medical staff that includes over 300 physicians.

Caverna Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed, not-for-profit critical access hospital which has remained an independent hospital since it was established by local residents 48 years ago. “Significant regulatory changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act and payment reform at the federal and state level make it increasingly difficult for small rural hospitals to remain independent,” said Alan Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Caverna Memorial Hospital. “We are very proud of our heritage at Caverna Memorial Hospital and becoming a part of The Medical Center will allow us to raise the bar even further in terms of quality healthcare and expand our services to the community,” added Alexander.

The Medical Center is a 337-bed, not-for-profit regional referral hospital located in Bowling Green. “We are honored to have been invited into the Hart County community by the board of directors and management team of Caverna Memorial Hospital,” stated Connie Smith, President and CEO of The Medical Center and CHC. “I am so impressed with the staff I have met at the hospital. Their dedication and commitment to patients is evident in all that they do. Together, we will further our mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve,” added Smith.

Opening of Medical Center Orthopaedics Expands Access to Orthopaedic Services

Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), parent company of The Medical Center, and UK HealthCare celebrated the opening of Medical Center Orthopaedics, Southcentral Kentucky’s new orthopaedic surgery practice, with a Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 30. The Medical Center created the new physician practice in affiliation with UK HealthCare Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine to expand availability of orthopaedic surgeons in Southcentral Kentucky.

Orthopaedics is one of the fastest growing service lines in the country. National models predict a 15% increase in Orthopaedics over the next few years.

“For years, Orthopaedics has been a significant part of The Medical Center. Patients have made it clear that they want a choice and they want to receive their orthopaedic care at The Medical Center,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation. “To facilitate the expansion of Orthopaedics, The Medical Center has partnered with UK HealthCare. UK has an excellent reputation in Orthopaedics, and we feel that combining that reputation with The Medical Center made sense.”

The first physician recruited to the practice is Rasesh Desai, M.D., F.A.A.O.S., orthopaedic surgeon and assistant professor with UK HealthCare Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Desai’s extensive fellowship training includes Orthopaedic Spine at University of Louisville, Pediatric Orthopaedic and Pediatric Spine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Adult Reconstructive (Total Joints) Orthopaedics at University of Louisville.

"The recruitment of Dr. Desai onto our faculty and into the Bowling Green community represents just the first investment in new models of care by two strong healthcare systems, UK HealthCare and The Medical Center," said Dr. Michael Karpf, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Kentucky. "Our relationship in orthopaedics and also stroke care will allow UK HealthCare and The Medical Center to provide advanced medicine for Kentuckians as close to home as possible, in the most appropriate setting." In 2014, The Medical Center joined the Norton Healthcare/UK HealthCare Stroke Care Network to allow for the sharing of best practices and outcomes data to promote continuous quality improvement in stroke care.

Medical Center Orthopaedics is located in the Riverside Professional Center on The Medical Center campus. To learn more, visit medcenterortho.com. To schedule an appointment, call Medical Center Orthopaedics at 270-780-2750.

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

Kohl’s Cares® has once again awarded Commonwealth Health Foundation a grant to enable The Medical Center to reach expectant parents with vital obstetrics education classes. This year’s grant totaling $31,381 will be used for The Medical Center’s Newborn Care and Safety Class which teaches expectant parents essential baby care skills.

“Having a baby can make parents feel apprehensive. They want to know the proper way to do everything from diapering, to feeding to comforting their newborn,” said Cindy Gilliam, OB Educator for The Medical Center. “The Newborn Care and Safety Class provides all this information and much more. It is one of our most attended classes. By teaching parents the basic skills they want and need to know, they feel much more comfortable and confident in caring for their new infant.”

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. Last year 34 classes were held with 472 total participants, and 36 classes are already scheduled for 2015.

The Kohl’s grant also funds the purchase of items such as “The Joy of Parenthood” publication on baby care and safety and swaddle blanket that are provided to parents who attend the class at no cost.

Since 2006, Kohl’s has donated $219,602 to The Medical Center to support its health and wellness programs including construction of two community walking trails at local elementary schools.

In 2000, Kohl’s introduced the Kohl’s Cares® philanthropic program to support children’s health and education initiatives in the communities it serves. Since that time, the Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program has raised more than $257 million for children nationwide.

About Kohl’s

Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a leading specialty department store with 1,163 stores in 49 states. With a commitment to inspiring and empowering families to lead fulfilled lives, the company offers amazing national and exclusive brands, incredible savings and inspiring shopping experiences in-store, online at Kohls.com and via mobile devices. Committed to its communities, Kohl’s has raised more than $257 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For additional information about Kohl’s philanthropic and environmental initiatives, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com.

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About Commonwealth Health Foundation

Commonwealth Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Commonwealth Health Foundation helps build relationships and partnerships across Southcentral Kentucky that will inspire charitable giving by individuals, foundations, corporations and organizations. These gifts help support the mission of CHC to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.commonwealthhealthfoundation.org or call 270-796-6519.

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 $63.3 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2014. 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.