The Medical Center at Bowling Green receives Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Quality Achievement Awards

The Medical Center at Bowling Green has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Quality Award. These awards recognize the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green earned the Stroke Gold Plus Award by exceeding benchmark performance on specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients for 24 consecutive months. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of stroke medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green also received the association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet or exceed quality measures over the same 24 consecutive months that were developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“We are honored to be recognized for the hard work and dedication of our stroke care team,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “Our commitment to the best in patient care has brought us Get With The Guidelines Awards several years in a row, and we are constantly pushing to improve patient outcomes even more. To achieve both the Gold Plus and Honor Roll Elite Plus Awards this year, we exceeded targets set by the American Heart and Stroke Associations over a 2-year period. This is an incredible accomplishment and our patients and their families are the ultimate benefactor of these efforts.”

“We are pleased to recognize The Medical Center at Bowling Green for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Graduate Medical Education Program celebrates expansion

On Thursday, June 27, a ribbon cutting was held on the campus of The Medical Center at Bowling Green, the flagship hospital of Med Center Health, to celebrate the expansion of the Graduate Medical Education Program. The Medical Center at Bowling Green, in partnership with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, currently offers three training programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). These programs are designed to produce skilled, competent and compassionate physicians focused on delivering patient-centered, evidence-based care.

The Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, which began in July 2015, will complete its fourth full year of operation on June 30, 2019. In July 2016, The Medical Center expanded its Graduate Medical Education Program with the addition of a Psychiatry Residency Program and a Cardiology Fellowship Program. On June 15, The Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program celebrated its second graduating class and the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program celebrated its first graduating class.

Effective July 1, 2019, The Medical Center will again expand its Graduate Medical Education Program by adding three residency programs and two fellowship programs including an Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program, a General Surgery Residency Program, a Transitional Year Residency Program, a Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship Program, and an Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program. As of next month, 58 residents and fellows will be enrolled in graduate medical education programs offered at The Medical Center.

As a teaching hospital, The Medical Center at Bowling Green benefits the community in a variety of ways, including physician recruitment and retention, access to more advanced healthcare, medical research, and an improved local economy.

“Med Center Health is dedicated to educating the next generation of physicians and ensuring exceptional healthcare in our region for years to come,” says Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “The physical and economic health of Bowling Green and surrounding communities will improve as more physicians choose to establish their practices in close proximity to where they received outstanding training. It is the ultimate win-win scenario.”

The Medical Center offers residents and fellows the opportunity to learn in a leading regional teaching facility with state-of-the-art technology and a diverse patient mix under supervision provided by outstanding board-certified teaching faculty.

To learn more about Graduate Medical Education at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, visit TheMedicalCenter.org/medical_education.

Medical Center EMS receives American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Recognition Award

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

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) the deadliest type of heart attack caused by a 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 mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

The Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the hospital and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.

“Med Center Health and Medical Center EMS are dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Jim Berry, Director of Medical Center EMS. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission: Lifeline.”

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient. We applaud Medical Center EMS for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

The Medical Center at Bowling Green offers life-changing procedure for patients with Atrial Fibrillation

The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the first and only hospital in our region to offer the WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Device for patients at risk of stroke due to Atrial Fibrillation (AF). The WATCHMAN device is an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners such as warfarin in people with AF not caused by a heart valve problem (also known as non-valvular AF). It is also the only device approved by the FDA for stroke prevention.

The WATCHMAN device is implanted in a one-time procedure to close off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA). The LAA is a non-essential part of the heart where blood clots can form in patients with AF, increasing the risk of stroke. The device is permanent— it doesn’t have to be replaced and can’t be seen outside the body. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day.

“The WATCHMAN device is an important alternative for patients with non-valvular AF at risk for a stroke, especially those with a compelling reason not to be on blood thinners,” said Deepak Gaba, MD, Electrophysiologist with Sahetya Medical Group. “I’m proud to have performed the very first implant of this device at The Medical Center at Bowling Green as it offers our patients potentially life-changing stroke risk treatment.”

About Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart (atrium) beat too fast and with irregular rhythm (fibrillation). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting more than five million Americans. Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with AF, and AF-related strokes are more frequently fatal and disabling. The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with AF is blood-thinning warfarin medication. Despite its proven efficacy, long-term warfarin medication is not well-tolerated by some patients and carries a significant risk for bleeding complications. Nearly half of AF patients eligible for warfarin are currently untreated due to tolerance and adherence issues.

For more information about cardiac services offered by Med Center Health, visit MedCenterHealth.org.

Kentucky Board of EMS recognizes Medical Center EMS for pediatric care

For the second year, as part of National EMS Week’s EMS for Children Day, the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services’ (KBEMS) Kentucky EMS for Children (KYEMSC) Pediatric Recognition program recognized Medical Center EMS for going beyond what is required by the state in terms of providing pediatric care.

“Improving emergency medical care of children in all of our communities across the state is crucial,” said KYEMSC for Children Project Director Morgan Scaggs. “These agencies have gone the extra mile in their commitment to improving emergency pediatric care that sets a standard for others.”

KYEMSC developed the Voluntary EMS Pediatric Recognition program to acknowledge EMS agencies that go beyond what is required by the state in pediatric care by completing the additional program requirements.

To be recognized, an agency must designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator to ensure integration of the unique needs of pediatric patients into all aspects of emergency care, comply with national recommendations for pediatric equipment carried on the ambulance and engage in pediatric-focused community outreach activities. There are also requirements for additional pediatric-related continuing education and annual demonstration of pediatric skill competency for all EMTs and paramedics.

“Being a part of the very first group of agencies awarded this honor—and now one of only two agencies to repeat the recognition—is possible because of the continuing dedication that Medical Center EMS has to provide the best possible care to everyone in our community,” says Jim Williams, Manager of Medical Center EMS Field Operations. “We take the trust that the public gives us very seriously, and always look for ways to improve services to our community. Out of about 200 services licensed in the state, we are proud to be among the 8 progressive services that have been recognized for this honor.”

This is the second year for the recognition program and all participating agencies will need to reapply annually to demonstrate their continued commitment to excellence in pediatric emergency care.

Other agencies recognized:

• Buechel Fire Protection District
  
• Burlington Fire Protection District
  
• Georgetown Scott County EMS
  
• Hebron Fire Protection District (2nd year)
  
• Murray Calloway County Hospital Ambulance Service
  
• Somerset Pulaski County EMS
  
• Whitley County EMS
  

For more information about Medical Center EMS, visit TheMedicalCenter.org.

2019 Expectant Parent Fair bigger and better than ever

Med Center Health is delivering a bigger and better Expectant Parent Fair. This year, the Fair will be held Sunday, May 5 from 1-4 p.m. at The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex at the corner of Park Street and 31-W Bypass on The Medical Center campus. A semiannual event in the past, the Fair is being expanded and will now be held once a year.

The Expectant Parent Fair features a variety of exhibits, vendors and educational opportunities:

• Educational workshops for moms, dads and grandparents:
  
  • Q&A with a Pediatrician (Debra Sowell, MD)
    
  • Meet the Midwives (Leigh Lindsey, PhD, CNM, Courtney Maxfield, CNM, and Heather Finney, CNM)
    
  • Infant CPR Demonstration (Kimmy Rheaume, EMT)
    
  • Car Seat Safety Demonstration (Beverly Phelps, RN)
    
  • Lactation Lounge (Calista Adams, RN, IBCLC, and Stacy Mosier, RN, IBCLC)
    
• Interactive booths and demonstrations
  
• More for parents with toddlers! A special area, hosted by the Warren County Public Library, will be set aside for story time, face painting and balloon animals
  
• Photo booth
  
• Light refreshments
  
• Tours of The Medical Center’s Mother-Baby Unit
  
• Fantastic door prizes, including a year’s supply of diapers and an Owlet Baby Care baby monitor with camera!
  

This event is free. For more information, call (270) 745-1098 or visit TheMedicalCenter.org.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green Earns Blue Distinction® Centers+ Designation for Cardiac Care

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has recognized The Medical Center at Bowling Green, the flagship hospital of Med Center Health, with a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Cardiac Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated providers that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally and is expected to claim more than 23.6 million lives annually by 2030. Blue Distinction Centers+ for Cardiac Care seek to empower patients with the knowledge and tools to find quality cardiac care. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ designation, hospitals must demonstrate expertise in delivering safe and effective cardiac care, focusing on cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) episodes of care. Hospitals receiving a Blue Distinction Centers+ designation must also demonstrate better cost-efficiency compared to their peers.

Only those hospitals that first meet nationally established quality measures for Blue Distinction Centers are considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Centers+.

“The Medical Center’s Cardiac team is committed to providing the highest standards of care to our community,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “We strive to offer advanced quality usually found only in major metropolitan areas right here, close to home. We are proud that our efforts have been recognized with the Blue Distinction Center+ designation, which affirms to our patients they are receiving the best, most cost-efficient care.”

“The Medical Center’s designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ is a testament to their innovative approach to cardiac patient care,” said Dr. Jeff Reynolds, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky medical director. “The Blue Distinction program is designed to recognize commitment to quality and to help consumers identify high performing health care providers. This is a well-deserved honor and I congratulate the entire team at The Medical Center.”

Hospitals recognized with this designation are assessed using a combination of quality information supplied by hospitals and third party data registries, and cost measures derived from Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies’ medical claims.

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients. On average, Blue Distinction Centers+ are also 20 percent more cost-efficient than non-Blue Distinction Center+ designated providers.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

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Med Center Health is a not-for-profit health system with a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. Our integrated healthcare system includes hospitals in Bowling Green, Albany, Caverna (Horse Cave), Franklin and Scottsville, as well as Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital, a long-term, acute care hospital. Combined, the hospitals comprise 454 acute care beds and 110 extended care beds, 400+ physicians in more than 50 specialties. Med Center Health has more than 3,700 employees and 90 employed providers, and is a two-time recipient of the Gallup Great Workplace award. In FY 2018, Med Center Health provided more than $117 million in community benefit. As a resource deeply rooted in the communities we serve, Med Center Health offers more access to top-quality healthcare than any other provider in Southcentral Kentucky. A wide footprint, combined with our commitment to proactively invest in the resources our communities need, helps people heal closer to home. Learn more at MedCenterHealth.org.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky:

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/anthemBCBS , or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Health of America Report® series and the national BCBS Health IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit BCBS.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube and follow us on Twitter.

About Blue Distinction Centers

Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.

Med Center Health joins campaign to register organ, eye, and tissue donors

Med Center Health has joined other area healthcare organizations to create a donation-friendly community through the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. This national initiative sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services challenges healthcare organizations to educate employees, patients, visitors, and the community about the crucial need for organ, eye, and tissue donation and give them opportunities to sign up as donors.

“One organ donor can save eight lives,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “And an eye and tissue donor can improve up to 50 lives. But each year, the number of people on the waiting list grows much larger than the number of donors and transplants. Med Center Health is committed to helping reverse this trend by encouraging our staff and other members of the community to register as organ donors and to spread the word among their friends and families.”

More than 114,000 people in the U.S., including approximately 1,000 in Kentucky, are waiting for an organ transplant, and 20 of them will die each day because no organ was available. Med Center Health is reaching out to the community to support its goal of registering 100 new organ, eye, and tissue donors in the Kentucky registry before April 30, 2019.

Kentucky residents can register for organ donation at donatelifeky.org. Med Center Health asks that when prompted what influenced their decision, registrants select a Med Center Health facility.

For more information about the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donation Campaign, visit organdonor.gov.

DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses Program Launched at Med Center Health

Med Center Health announces the launch of the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses. The DAISY Award is an international program designed to say “thank you” to nurses who have truly made a difference in the lives of their patients. Founded in 1999, the DAISY Foundation was created to honor the exceptional nurses who profoundly impacted the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of medical complications from ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura). DAISY, the award’s name, is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem—the type of disease Patrick suffered from.

“The DAISY Award is just one way that we can stop and reflect on the special moments that our nurses create for our patients each and every day,” says Dr. Jill Payne, RN, Executive Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer. “A simple nomination, acknowledging a nurse’s extraordinary contributions and the impact their actions had on you or your family, will stay with a nurse for life.”

Since its founding, the DAISY Award has spread across the nation as patients, patient families and co-workers found a way to express their heartfelt appreciation of nurses. The goal of the DAISY Award is to let our nurses know they are valued for their skill, education and knowledge, and for the remarkable care they provide when treating their patients.

Nurses can be nominated by patients, families, physicians, co-workers and anyone else who experiences or observes extraordinary care by a hospital nurse. Each year, a total of six Med Center Health nurses will be recognized with a DAISY Award. Four will be from The Medical Center at Bowling Green and two will be from The Medical Centers at Scottsville, Franklin, Caverna and Albany combined. People interested in sharing a story of how one of our nurses impacted a life can submit a nomination at MedCenterHealth.org/DAISY.

Learn more about the DAISY Award at daisyfoundation.org.

Med Center Health Announces 29th Annual Women in the Arts Exhibit Call For Entries

Entries are now being accepted for Med Center Health’s Women in the Arts exhibit, which is scheduled for Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14 in The Medical Center at Bowling Green Auditorium. The exhibit is open to any female artist over 18 years old residing in Kentucky. Artists may enter their artwork in the following categories: painting, sculpture, ceramics, works on paper, fiber works and photography. Awards include Special Purchase, Cash Merit, Honorable Mention, and ArtWorks Award.

"The creation and enjoyment of art brings a therapeutic atmosphere of comfort that is important for healing and recuperation,” says Sarah Widener, director of Community Wellness. “Many works that were shown in past Women in the Arts exhibits can be found throughout The Medical Center.”

A $20 entry fee is required covering all artwork submitted. Two pieces of artwork are allowed per person. Entry forms are available online at TheMedicalCenter.org or may be picked up at Health & Wellness in the Community Clinic building at 740 East 10th Avenue in Bowling Green. Entry forms should be returned by March 15.

For more information, call 270-745-1010 or 1-800-624-2318.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Changes Regulation In Effort to Help Greenview Hospital After Losing Recent Battle Over Ambulance Service

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has changed a regulation following Greenview Hospital’s recent defeat in its attempt to establish an ambulance service in Warren County. The Cabinet’s changes improperly favor TriStar Greenview Hospital, an HCA-affiliated, for-profit, Tennessee-based corporation. The newly amended regulation brazenly seeks to remove the obstacles Greenview encountered when its Certificate of Need application was denied on January 4, 2019.

“Quite honestly, we are at a loss for words,” said Wade Stone, Executive Vice President of Med Center Health. “The Cabinet unnecessarily took aim at Warren County last September by crafting special legislation to benefit Greenview. It failed to get the wording right the first time, so now it is continuing its assault on Warren County and Med Center Health by amending the regulation. The Cabinet is dead set on helping Greenview feed market share to its affiliated hospitals in Tennessee under the disguise of addressing a non-existent ‘public health crisis.’ It’s baffling at best, and we question the real motives behind such behavior.”

Med Center Health has a lawsuit pending in Franklin Circuit Court which challenges the constitutionality of the regulation issued last September. Kentucky law prohibits the creation of laws and regulations that are written for the purpose of benefiting a specific organization.

“The Cabinet’s statement accompanying the new regulation point blank admits that the Cabinet is actively trying to interfere in the CON process, a process that is supposed to be free from political interference. Both the original and amended regulations were developed for the sole purpose of benefiting one particular corporation, Greenview. Not only do these regulations threaten to disrupt what is regarded as one of the very best ambulance service operations in the Commonwealth, but they expose Warren County taxpayers to a substantial tax burden that has been avoided for nearly forty years.” Stone concluded, “We look forward to presenting evidence of these illegal actions by the Cabinet in a court of law, where political influence is checked at the door,” said Stone.

Cabinet's Amended Regulation 01/15/19

Cabinet Denies TriStar Greenview’s Ambulance Service Application

Today, the independent hearing officer assigned to hear the case involving TriStar Greenview’s certificate of need (CON) application to initiate a second ambulance service in Warren County issued a Final Order denying the application. TriStar Greenview will therefore not be able to proceed with its proposed ambulance service. The Final Order (copy attached) cancels the CON hearing scheduled for January 7-10 and 16, 2019.

“We are very pleased with the hearing officer’s decision,” said Wade Stone, Executive Vice President of Med Center Health. “The decision is very well-reasoned, and we are relieved that neither our community nor our Medical Center EMS service will be adversely affected by TriStar Greenview’s proposal,” said Stone.

Stone added, “We will continue reaching out to officials in Frankfort now that the CON application has been denied and hope they will be receptive to our position. We will convey to those officials that our committed staff and responders are offering an award-winning service to the residents of Warren County without local taxpayer subsidization that so many other Kentucky counties experience. A second ambulance service will only create confusion with dispatch, negatively affect our existing service and possibly lead to the need for taxpayer subsidy.”

Medical Center EMS is an award-winning ambulance service. It is the only ambulance service in Kentucky accredited by both the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) and the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED™) - both of which are gold standards within the industry.

Stone concluded, “As always, we will focus our efforts and energies toward improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve while respecting patient choice.”

Court Denies Motion by Greenview and Cabinet for Health and Family Services to Dismiss Medical Center EMS Lawsuit

Franklin Circuit Court has denied a motion filed by Greenview Hospital and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to dismiss a Medical Center EMS lawsuit challenging the Cabinet’s emergency regulation involving ambulance service.

The Cabinet issued the emergency regulation in late September which allows Certificate of Need (CON) applications for new ambulance services to be “fast-tracked” through non-substantive review if proposed in counties meeting certain criteria. When the Cabinet enacted the emergency regulation, it mistakenly identified six counties in which the emergency regulation would apply, one of which was Warren County. Greenview Hospital filed a CON application the morning after the emergency regulation was enacted and before the emergency regulation was available to the public online.

The emergency regulation came on the heels of a privately funded “study” by the Pegasus Institute, a Louisville-based “think tank,” that suggested Warren County was the most underserved in the state for ambulance service. Medical Center EMS and Warren County Fiscal Court were quick to point out that neither had been contacted by the Pegasus Institute, and Warren County Fiscal Court unanimously passed a resolution at its November 30 meeting stating there is no need for an additional ambulance service in Warren County.

Greenview Hospital’s first response to the Medical Center EMS lawsuit was to file a motion to dismiss it. In a highly unusual move, the Cabinet joined Greenview Hospital’s motion. The Cabinet has traditionally remained neutral in such disputes. Wade Stone, Executive Vice President of Med Center Health, commented, “We were pleased to hear that Franklin Circuit Court rejected the attempt by Greenview Hospital and the Cabinet to dismiss our lawsuit. The lawsuit was a last resort for us, however we felt from the very beginning that this regulation unfairly and unlawfully targeted Warren County and threatens to disrupt what is one of the best emergency response systems in the Commonwealth that is delivered with no tax subsidy from Warren County citizens.”

The Medical Center Sleep Center Receives Reaccreditation

The Medical Center Sleep Center in Bowling Green recently received program reaccreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

“Almost 70 million Americans suffer from some type of sleep disorder,” says Justin Srygler, Director of Clinical Allied Services at The Medical Center, “and these disorders can be linked to chronic physical disorders as well as anxiety and depression. We are proud of the high-quality service The Medical Center Sleep Center offers to our community. This accreditation shows that our patients are receiving the best care possible.”

“The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates The Medical Center Sleep Center on meeting the high standards required to earn reaccreditation as a sleep disorders center,” said Dr. Douglas Kirsch, AASM president. “The Medical Center Sleep Center is an important resource to the local medical community and will provide academic and scientific value in addition to the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders.”

To receive accreditation for a five-year period, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional healthcare as designated by the AASM. These standards address core areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care, and quality assurance. Additionally, the sleep center’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine accredited a sleep disorders center for the first time in 1977. Today, there are more than 2,600 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the country.

The Medical Center Sleep Center was established in 1991 to diagnose and treat sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, insomnia and narcolepsy, among others. The Medical Center Sleep Center also performs pediatric sleep studies and tests for all sleep disorders in children ages two and older. The Center is directed by Nisarfathmia Kazimuddin, MD, and is located at 825 Second Avenue East, A3.

Med Center Health Files Lawsuit Against Cabinet for Health and Family Services As “Last Resort” Over Emergency Regulation

Med Center Health announced Monday that it has filed a lawsuit against the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to stop an emergency regulation involving ambulance services. The Cabinet issued the regulation on September 25, clearing the way for an additional ambulance provider to address what the Cabinet wrongly calls a “public health crisis” in Warren County. Cabinet officials have since refused to meet with Med Center Health or Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon regarding the matter.

"This was our last resort,” said Wade Stone, Executive Vice President of Med Center Health. “The Cabinet left us no choice when it refused our request to simply have a conversation. We had hoped that a ‘public health crisis’ would warrant a meeting. It certainly seemed reasonable to us.”

Med Center Health has owned and operated Medical Center EMS for nearly forty years. It is the only ambulance service in Kentucky accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) and recognized as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED). Medical Center EMS received the 2018 Mission Lifeline: EMS Gold Award from the American Heart Association as well as the 2018 Award of Excellence for Pediatric Emergency Care.

According to Stone, Med Center Health is concerned about how the emergency regulation came to pass. “We know the Pegasus Institute released a study that contained significant errors and misleading conclusions while focusing much of its attention on Warren County. We know the Cabinet issued an emergency regulation that only affects two counties in the entire state, Warren being one of those. We know that TriStar Greenview filed a Certificate of Need application for a new ambulance service before the emergency regulation was published on the state’s website. And now we know the Cabinet won’t talk to us.”

Stone said Medical Center EMS will continue to meet the needs of Warren County with the same award-winning service patients have come to expect. “We sincerely appreciate everyone’s support,” said Stone. “Our crews will continue to provide professional, compassionate care in a timely manner. We’ll let Franklin Circuit Court figure the rest out.”

Med Center Health First Responders and Warren County Judge-Executive Snubbed By Bevin Administration Following Request to Discuss Emergency Regulation

Adam Meier, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, has denied a request to meet with Med Center Health and Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon concerning a recently issued Emergency Regulation which addresses ambulance service in Warren County. Med Center Health and Judge Buchanon requested the meeting to make clear to the Bevin Administration that there is not a "public health crisis" as cited in the regulation and that Medical Center EMS has provided outstanding service to the community for nearly forty years.

"There is no need for a second ambulance service in Warren County," said Judge Buchanon. "I am quite honestly shocked and disturbed that no one sought my opinion or input prior to dropping an emergency regulation that claims we have a public health crisis in Warren County involving our ambulance service." According to Judge Buchanon, he and Med Center Health officials requested a meeting with Secretary Meier, in part, to share facts that shed light on what they considered to be an erroneous and misleading report published by the Pegasus Institute in July. The Governor’s emergency regulation cited the Pegasus Institute study when rationalizing the need for the emergency regulation.

"The fact that I was not contacted by the state or any one of our legislative delegation prior to the emergency regulation is upsetting enough," said Buchanon. "Then to decline our request to have a conversation and discuss the facts – I think it speaks for itself."

Wade Stone, Executive Vice President of Med Center Health, shared the same sentiment as Judge Buchanon. "We are extremely disappointed in the fact that Secretary Meier declined our request to simply have a word with them face-to-face. One would think that a ‘public health crisis’ would at least warrant a conversation."

Med Center Health is now weighing other options to address what it considers to be a misguided and needless regulation. "Obviously we were hoping to resolve this through open discourse with the Bevin Administration," said Stone. "This latest setback tells us we are dealing with a politically motivated move to target Warren County solely for the benefit of a for-profit, Tennessee-based hospital chain. This regulation had nothing to do with need." Stone added that a legal challenge is not out of the question. "We’ll take whatever means necessary to defend the integrity and honor of our first responders whom were clearly attacked in this baseless study and rigged regulation."

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Marks Official Opening for the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus

A ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday marked the official opening of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus. The celebration of the new home for faculty, staff and the inaugural class of 30 students was also an opportunity to thank the medical school's partners - Med Center Health and Western Kentucky University - and the community of Bowling Green.

The college encompasses 24,000-square-feet on the second floor of the newest building at Med Center Health which will also include offices for The Medical Center and a five-level, 832-space parking structure. Amenities of the second floor include a computer lab, two large classrooms, four multi-purpose, six small group rooms and eight simulation and standardized patient rooms.

"One of the critical barriers to improving the health and wellness of the people in the Commonwealth is the shortage of physicians serving in community settings across the state," said UK Provost David Blackwell. "Today's ceremony marks an important milestone in strategically addressing this need but it could not have been possible without our partners at Med Center Health and Western Kentucky University."

The UK College of Medicine is at its capacity at the Lexington campus and although there is a deep applicant pool for medical students, the college couldn’t expand enrollment without the help of regional partners. In addition to the Bowling Green Campus that opened this fall, a Northern Kentucky Campus will open in Fall 2019.

“This new medical campus and these students help ensure our state will remain competitive as the landscape of health care changes,” said Dr. Robert DiPaola, Dean of the UK College of Medicine. “It signals a new beginning in training more physicians in Kentucky, for Kentucky, and the support we have received from Med Center Health and Western Kentucky University as well as this community has been extraordinary and we are truly grateful."

The UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus is a fully functioning campus, utilizing the exact curriculum and assessments as UK’s Lexington campus. Faculty have UK College of Medicine appointments and teach in small groups, as well as provide simulation/standardized patient experiences.

“As someone who grew up in a rural part of Kentucky, I understand firsthand the need to provide quality medical care throughout our state," said Associate Dean Dr. Todd Cheever. "The UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus is poised to address the physician shortage, especially in southcentral and Western Kentucky and I am proud of the students who have chosen to complete their medical education in Bowling Green and take this important step toward improving the health of our citizens.”

As part of the medical students' education, clinical experiences occur at Med Center Health facilities, which span six hospitals, including its flagship hospital The Medical Center at Bowling Green, and more than 30 other entities.

“Med Center Health’s involvement in this project shows how serious we are about living up to our promise to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve,” said Connie Smith, President and CEO of Med Center Health. “The UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus is a giant leap forward for our health system. Being a teaching hospital brings an unprecedented level to delivering the best in evidence-based care to our patients. We are committed to training doctors in Kentucky, for Kentucky.”

Through the partnership, basic science and early didactic training is being taught in conjunction with faculty at WKU through both onsite classes and live-streaming of lectures in accordance with UK College of Medicine curricular protocols.

"This remarkable partnership between Med Center Health and our two universities represents the very best of what higher education institutions can do to elevate the communities we serve when we work together,” said Timothy C. Caboni, President of Western Kentucky University. “We are excited for the opportunity that many of our students will have to move seamlessly into medical school right here in our community and for the many ways that WKU faculty will be engaged.”

For students, the program in Bowling Green offers the benefit of scholarships, smaller class sizes and the opportunity to live, work and learn in an up-and-coming Kentucky community.

"Being a part of the inaugural class at the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus is truly a once in a lifetime experience," said Caitlyn Galloway, a Bowling Green native and also a WKU graduate. "Every single student in our 30-student class and all of the administrative staff are part of a new beginning for both the school and the community. We have the chance here to create something that is good not just for the city of Bowling Green, but also for the entire state of Kentucky."

The Medical Center at Bowling Green Receives Hero and Karpf Awards from UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare - Stroke Care Network

UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare - Stroke Care Network has recognized The Medical Center at Bowling Green with the “Karpf Award" and the “Hero Award” for its work in improving stroke care for patients and communities.

As an affiliate in the Stroke Care Network, The Medical Center at Bowling Green has access to UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare’s expertise and resources. At the Network's annual Summit in Lexington, Dr. Michael Dobbs, MHCM, director of the Stroke Care Network, praised The Medical Center at Bowling Green for having dedication to excellence in stroke care.

"The Medical Center at Bowling Green’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 at Bowling Green’s efforts embody that principle."

The Karpf Award is named after the visionary and innovative Dr. Michael Karpf, who served as UK’s Executive Vice President for Health Affairs from 2003 until 2017. Dr. Karpf was highly instrumental in changing the face of healthcare in Kentucky to ensure that Kentuckians have access to the best of care, not only at UK, but across the entire Commonwealth. The “Karpf Award” is given to those who promote the concept of a stroke system of care and participate in state-wide stroke care improvement initiatives.

The “Hero Award” is given to stroke centers who have the “Fastest Door-to-Treatment” time for IV-tPA in the Stroke Care Network. IV-tPA is a term used for the stroke “clot-buster” drug Alteplase® which, when given to eligible acute ischemic stroke patients as soon as possible after arrival in the ED, may help restore blood flow to the area of the brain impacted by the stroke.

“Time equals Brain,” said Bill Singletary, RN, director of specialty certifications. “We know that for every single minute an acute stroke goes untreated, a patient loses 1.9 million brain cells. Because of this, many individuals and departments at The Medical Center play a critical role in achieving these incredible Door-to-Treatment times — including EMS, the Emergency Department physicians and staff, Diagnostic Imaging, Lab, Pharmacy and Neurology.”

Lisa Bellamy, RN, BHS, CPHQ, the Stroke Care Network's managing director, notes that “The Medical Center at Bowling Green was recognized with the Network’s ‘Karpf Award’ and ‘Hero Award’ because their commitment to providing the best possible stroke care is evidenced by the unrelenting efforts throughout this entire health system.”

The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a recipient of The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The Gold Seal of Approval® and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations. The Medical Center was first certified in 2009 and has consistently maintained certification since that time.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Nationally Recognized

The Medical Center at Bowling Green is proud to announce the re-certification of its pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The Medical Center at Bowling Green was recognized for its commitment to improving the quality of life by enhancing standards of care.

“The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program at The Medical Center has a dedicated and passionate staff,” said Justin Srygler, director of Clinical Allied Services. “We are proud the pulmonary program joins the cardiac rehabilitation program in being recertified by the AACVPR. This achievement is a result of the professionalism and commitment of both the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation staff.”

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], respiratory symptoms) recover faster and improve their quality of life. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling, and support for patients and their families.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other professional societies. Each program is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee and Certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green Receives Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award

The Medical Center at Bowling Green, flagship hospital of Med Center Health, has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“The stroke care team at The Medical Center at Bowling Green is dedicated to constantly improving the quality of care for our patients,” said Jean Cherry, Executive Vice President of Med Center Health. “For every patient who comes to The Medical Center with a stroke, our team goes above and beyond to positively impact their outcome. We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, but our greatest achievement is in saving lives and preserving the quality of life for our patients.”

The Medical Center at Bowling Green additionally received the association’s Target: Stroke℠ Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“We are pleased to recognize The Medical Center at Bowling Green for their commitment to stroke care,” said Eric E. Smith, M.D., national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.