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.

The Hospitality House on The Medical Center Campus to Open in January

Ribbon Cutting and Open House scheduled for December 21

Construction is complete on the Hospitality House located on The Medical Center campus. The 12 private guestroom, private bath facility will open in January and serve the family members and caregivers of seriously ill patients receiving treatment at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. A Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and open house will be held on December 21 at 9:30 a.m. The Hospitality House is located at 501 High Street across from Rosewood Health Care Center.

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. To date, the Foundation has raised over $2.9 million in donations and pledges.

“We are truly grateful to those in the community who have provided the financial support to make the dream of opening the Hospitality House a reality,” said Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center and Chief Operating Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation. “Soon the families of patients being cared for at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital will enjoy a warm and inviting place where they can rest and recharge between visits to their loved one.”

“The response to the capital campaign from the community, both from individuals and businesses, to fund this much needed project has been overwhelming,” said Mike Murphy, Chairman of the Extending Home Capital Campaign Steering Committee. “Southcentral Kentucky has recognized the need for such a facility and rallied behind us. The Hospitality House is a perfect example of what great things can be done when community members come together for such a worthy cause.”

In addition to the 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 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.

$30 Million Expansion of The Medical Center Complete

Project meets growing need for patient rooms

The Medical Center has completed a $30 million expansion project, featuring two new patient floors and 48,000 square feet of space. The new addition is entirely dedicated to patient care and includes 48 new private rooms. With these additional rooms, The Medical Center has the capacity to provide all 337 beds for which it is licensed with all private rooms throughout the hospital.

The two-year project, which began in the fall of 2008, enables the hospital to meet the increased need for healthcare services in Southcentral Kentucky. A growing population and continued expansion of available health care services at The Medical Center are two key factors driving this need.

“The Medical Center continues to be the hospital of choice for a large majority of Southcentral Kentuckians,” said Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center. “This expansion provides much needed space for patient care as we continue meeting the increasing demand for some of our key services.”

Two stories have been added to the current Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery wing of the hospital located along the High Street side of the hospital’s campus. The third floor of the new addition is dedicated to Orthopaedics and Neuroscience and features a physical rehabilitation gym. The gym will accommodate several patients at a time, enabling patients and family members to socialize and support each other during therapy treatments. Multiple therapists will work in a team-oriented environment with patients, providing greater communication and better management of the patient’s care.

The fourth floor is designed for Cardiothoracic and Vascular patients. Care will be delivered to patients who have undergone open-heart surgery or other thoracic and vascular procedures. The fourth floor features a new Open-Heart Recovery unit that is readily accessible from The Medical Center’s operating room suite. Open-heart patients will transition from the recovery unit into one of the new, spacious private rooms where they will remain for the rest of their stay.

Three rooms on each floor feature lifts, allowing for patients to be weighed and safely transferred to and from a wheelchair or the bathroom. One bariatric lift can hold up to 1,000 lbs. while the other two lifts can accommodate up to 550 lbs. Each floor also features two isolation rooms with a special ventilation system that generates negative air pressure. These rooms are designed for patients with contagious airborne diseases.

Several nurse stations are positioned throughout each floor. Remote telemetry is available on both floors with a central monitoring station. Pharmacy and patient supplies are housed in secure stations to allow convenient access for nursing staff. A tube system is used to transfer items to ancillary departments located in the main section of the hospital such as the Lab and Pharmacy. A satellite kitchen allows Food Services staff to prep meals and deliver to patients in the new section.

Both floors offer family members spacious, comfortable waiting rooms with an abundance of natural light. A conference room is available on the third floor where physicians can meet privately with families.