The Medical Center Enhances Training with Newborn Simulator

The Medical Center has acquired new technology that provides enhanced training for staff involved with neonatal care. The Gaumard "Newborn HAL" simulator is a computer programmable "baby" that is being used to train nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics.

Approximately 10 percent of all newborns need some assistance to begin breathing at birth. Without timely help, these newborns can die or suffer lifelong consequences.

"It is critically important for all medical personnel who provide care during the first moments of life to be prepared with the skills required to quickly assess the infant's condition and provide the necessary resuscitation measures," said Debbie Smith, Charge Nurse of The Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The Medical Center NICU provides 24/7 neonatology services and cares for infants greater than 28 weeks gestation.

The use of a high-fidelity simulator is an effective training tool for the obstetrical team, allowing repetitive training of high-risk clinical emergencies. Conducted in a risk-free environment, the training promotes team work, clinical decision-making and confidence among staff members.

Using the simulator, staff have the ability to run programmed scenarios, modify scenarios or create new ones. With wireless communication, "Newborn HAL" can be "treated" in one area and rushed to another, recording the actions of staff for performance feedback. The simulator is used with initial employee orientation in the NICU, ongoing competency assessment and continuing education for medical personnel.

The purchase of the newborn simulator was made possible in part by a $14,500 grant from WHAS Crusade for Children to Commonwealth Health Foundation. The total cost of the simulator was $22,500.

"The airline industry has long embraced simulator training for their staff education," said Amber Herman, Clinical Manager of Obstetrics and Neonatology. "Healthcare education is heading the same way, but the simulators are very expensive. The WHAS Crusade for Children grant helped fund the purchase of the simulator which will be used to expand our staff's skill and competency to better handle high-risk births in Southcentral Kentucky."

Commonwealth Health Foundation Breaks Ground for Hospitality House

Contact: Doris Thomas, Vice President, 270-745-1589

Three months after announcing the Extending Home Capital Campaign, Commonwealth Health Foundation and representatives from Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC) and The Medical Center, broke ground today for a Hospitality House on The Medical Center campus. The 12 private guestroom, private bath facility will serve the family members and caregivers of seriously ill patients receiving treatment at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital.

“The Hospitality House will be more than just four walls and a place to sleep. It will be a place where families can rest and re-charge between visits to a loved one. We are grateful to those in our community who are providing financial support to fund the construction and operation of the new Hospitality House,” said Connie Smith, Chief Operating Officer of CHC and Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center.

“It’s great to finally see dirt moving and things going into motion as we prepare for construction,” said Mike Murphy, Chairman of the Extending Home Capital Campaign Steering Committee. “While we still need to raise nearly $1 million, it is an opportune time to begin construction in light of the unusually low building prices that are expected to increase as we move into summer.

”Commonwealth Health Foundation has raised $2.1 million in donations and pledges during the campaign. The campaign goal of $3 million will cover the costs to construct and furnish the Hospitality House and establish an endowment to ensure ongoing operation.

“We are moving forward with this project on the faith that the community will rally behind us to help us reach our goal and make this most worthy project a success,” said Murphy. Construction will take approximately eight months to complete. “If all goes well with the construction process, hopefully, we will provide one of the biggest Christmas presents ever to Southcentral Kentucky,” added Murphy.

In addition to the 12 private guestrooms and baths, The Hospitality House will feature a large kitchen and dining room to accommodate multiple families, a quiet room for prayer and meditation, a community room with comfortable furnishings, and a business center with computers and internet access. There will not be a charge to stay at The Hospitality House; however, guests who are able to make a donation for each night they stay will be encouraged to do so.

To learn more about The Hospitality House and how you can support the Extending Home Capital Campaign, contact Commonwealth Health Foundation at (270) 796-5543 or visit www.hospitalityhousebg.org.

About Commonwealth Health Foundation
Commonwealth Health Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization established as 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, visit www.CommonwealthHealthFoundation.org or call (270) 796-5543.

About Commonwealth Health Corporation
Commonwealth Health Corporation is the parent company of The Medical Center at Bowling Green, Franklin, and Scottsville, Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital and various healthcare related entities throughout Southcentral Kentucky. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities contributed $56.9 million in total benefits to the community in fiscal year 2009 including millions through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more about CHC, visit www.chc.net.

Commonwealth Health Foundation Announces Capital Campaign for Construction of Hospitality House

Contact: Doris Thomas, Vice President, 270-745-1589

Hospitality House will provide a home away from home for families and caregivers of seriously ill patients at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital

Commonwealth Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), announced the Extending Home capital campaign today for construction of a Hospitality House. Funds raised through the Extending Home campaign will help build, furnish and staff the 13,564 square foot “home away from home” to be situated on The Medical Center campus at the corner of High and Fifth streets. The 12 private guestroom, private bath facility will serve the family members and caregivers of seriously ill patients receiving treatment at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital.

“The Foundation has worked diligently for the advancement of CHC’s not-for-profit healthcare initiatives in the area for the past nine years,” said Charles M. Moore, Jr., Chairman of the Commonwealth Health Foundation Board of Directors. “The Hospitality House has been a dream of the Foundation and CHC for quite some time, and the success of the capital campaign will depend on the commitment of our community and the friends of the Foundation, The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital.”

The need for a Hospitality House has greatly increased as patients are traveling from all across the region to receive care at The Medical Center for various services including cardiac, cancer, orthopaedic and neonatology services.

“Nearly half of our patients reside outside of Warren County,” said Connie Smith, Chief Operating Officer of CHC and Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center. “On average, those patients spend nearly five days in the hospital. And, while we try to make family members and caregivers as comfortable as possible, there’s nothing quite like having the comforts of home in such close proximity.”

In 2007 and 2008, an average of 8,600 patients from outside Warren County stayed at The Medical Center. Additionally, Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital – a long term acute care hospital located within The Medical Center – treats patients who require specialized, continuing medical care for chronic or complex medical conditions. The average length of stay for these patients is 25 days or more.

In addition to the 12 private guestrooms and baths, the Hospitality House will feature 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. The Hospitality House will also be available for patients receiving outpatient radiation therapy. It is not uncommon for some of these cancer patients to drive 50 miles one way for treatment. There will not be a charge to stay at the Hospitality House, however, guests who are able to make a donation for each night they stay will be encouraged to do so.

Mike Murphy of Scott, Murphy and Daniel serves as Chairman of the capital campaign committee, and Jerry Baker of Airgas serves as Honorary Chairman.

“Bowling Green is a hub for healthcare, and the Hospitality House will be a welcomed addition to our community,” said Mike Murphy. “In the midst of a medical emergency or lengthy hospitalization, families need the assurance that they will have a warm, safe and inviting place to stay during those trying times. The need for the Hospitality House is clear, and we can’t wait to see it come to fruition.”

To date, the Foundation has secured $1.7 million in pledges and donations for the Extending Home capital campaign. An estimated $2 million is needed to construct and furnish the Hospitality House. An additional $1 million is needed for establishment of an endowment to ensure ongoing operation. To learn more about the Hospitality House and how you can support the Extending Home Capital Campaign, contact Commonwealth Health Foundation at (270) 796-5543 or visit www.hospitalityhousebg.org.

About Commonwealth Health Foundation
Commonwealth Health Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization established as 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, visit www.CommonwealthHealthFoundation.org or call (270)796-5543.

About Commonwealth Health Corporation
Commonwealth Health Corporation is the parent company of The Medical Center at Bowling Green, Franklin, and Scottsville, Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital and various healthcare related entities throughout South Central Kentucky. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities contributed $56.9 million in total benefits to the community in fiscal year 2009 including millions through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more about CHC, visit www.chc.net.