New visitor guidelines for newborns in intensive care - 03/11/10 >Salem — To offer its tiniest patients the support of family and friends while protecting them from exposure to illness, Salem Hospital is announcing new visitor guidelines for its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), effective immediately.
Visitors to patients in neonatal intensive care must be at least 18 years of age, and free of symptoms of illness. An exception to the age limitation is made for siblings of the patient, who may be of any age. Parents can designate four additional people who may visit without the parents present. A total of four visitors may visit an infant at one time.
Previously visitors were limited to people over age 12. Changes to visitor guidelines in the NICU were recommended by the unit's medical director, Dr. David Goodwin, along with the unit's clinical specialists. Salem Hospital staffers are advising patients' families of the new guidelines, and signs are posted at the unit entrance.
The neonatal intensive care unit at Salem Hospital is one of seven in Oregon to care for newborns of 26 weeks gestation and older with health problems at birth. In 2009, Salem Hospital clinical staff cared for 445 of these tiny patients.
Salem Hospital is a part of Salem Health, which includes the Community Health Education Center, West Valley Hospital and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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LHC Group signs definitive agreement to acquire Salem Hospital Home Care, transition planned for March 31 - 03/10/10 >Salem — LHC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG), one of the largest home health care providers in the U.S., announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Salem Hospital to acquire the assets of Salem Hospital Home Care, the largest provider of home health services in the mid-valley area.
The purchase is expected to close on March 31, and the new service will be known as Salem Home Care, LLC.
"Salem Health conducted extensive reviews of the quality of care and customer service provided by potential buyers of our home care service," said Cheryl Nester Wolfe, chief nursing officer and a senior vice president of operations for Salem Health. "LHC Group has provided high-quality care for its patients in other areas of the country, which was a primary consideration in making this agreement."
Home Care patients should experience a smooth transition to Salem Home Care, LLC, which plans to employ many of the same staffers currently providing home care services for Salem Hospital.
Keith G. Myers, chief executive officer of LHC Group, said, "It is with great pleasure that I welcome the employees from Salem Hospital Home Care into our growing LHC Group family. We are proud to be part of Salem and the surrounding communities. As always, our commitment is to help people in these communities by providing the highest quality home health services available to the patients and families in these areas."
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Local chef to demonstrate signature recipes March 22 - 03/08/10 >Salem — The Community Health Education Center (CHEC) will be hosting Chef Jesse Tomaino from local restaurant Prudence Uncorked on Monday, March 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., in The Gehlar Wellness Kitchen.
Insisting on serving only fresh, simply prepared perfection, Chef Tomaino will be demonstrating a range of culinary surprises. The menu will include many delicious recipes including seared ahi tuna salad with fat-free lime vinaigrette, cumin scented carrot puree, herb and balsamic marinated chicken breast, wild mushroom bread pudding, and red wine poached pear with kiwi sorbet. After the demonstration, you'll be able to sample the food and take home the recipes to try in your own home.
Chef Tomaino is an alumnus of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Calif., and has worked at various restaurants throughout the country.
Part of the CHEC's Chef Showcase series of cooking classes, the class will take place in The Gehlar Wellness Kitchen in the CHEC, located on the first floor of Building D on the Salem Hospital campus, 939 Oak St. SE. Parking is available in the visitor parking garage on the corner of Mission Street Southeast and Capitol Street Southeast.
The cost of the class is $20 and advance registration is required. To reserve a seat, please visit http://salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-CHEC (2432).
The Community Health Education Center and Salem Hospital are each a part of Salem Health, which includes West Valley Hospital and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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Class to help siblings prepare for birth of a baby March 20 - 03/05/10 >Salem — The birth of a new baby is a life-changing event and one that affects all members of the family. On March 20, the Community Health Education Center (CHEC) is offering a class to help big brothers- and sisters-to-be and their parents plan for the baby's birth.
Big brothers and sisters will learn what to expect when the baby arrives and will design a onesie shirt for the new baby. A tour of the Mother/Baby Unit is included.
The Big Brother/Big Sister Sibling class will take place on Saturday, March 20, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the CHEC, located on the first floor of Building D on the Salem Hospital campus, 939 Oak St. SE. Parking is available in the visitor parking garage on the corner of Mission Street Southeast and Capitol Street Southeast.
The cost of the class is $15 per child and advance registration is required. Parents are asked to attend the class with their children. There is no charge for parents. To register for the program, please visit http://salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-CHEC (2432).
The Community Health Education Center and Salem Hospital are each a part of Salem Health, which includes West Valley Hospital and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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West Valley Hospital Auxiliary scholarship applications due April 9; Two students will receive $1,000 each - 03/05/10 >Dallas, Ore. -- West Valley Hospital Auxiliary is accepting applications for its annual student scholarship award. College students and graduating high school seniors from Polk County pursuing medical or health-related fields may apply. This is the first year the annual scholarship will be awarded to two students. Applications must be received by West Valley Hospital no later than Friday, April 9.
Full- and part-time students are eligible. While applicants must be from Polk County, their educational institution does not have to be in Polk County. Scholarships will be made payable to the recipients' college and winners will be notified within two weeks of the award.
Applications are available online at westvalleyhospital.org, can be picked up at West Valley Hospital, or can be requested by contacting Pat Cozad, volunteer services coordinator, at 503-623-7323.
West Valley Hospital Auxiliary is a long-standing group of citizen volunteers who partner with the hospital to engage the community through activities and helps support future healthcare professionals through auxiliary scholarships.
West Valley Hospital, located at 525 SE Washington Street in Dallas, Oregon, is a critical-access hospital offering 24-hour emergency care, as well as inpatient and outpatient services to people in the Polk County area. A part of Salem Health, West Valley Hospital and its affiliates, Monmouth Medical Center and West Valley Physicians & Surgeons Clinic, partner with Salem Hospital for additional healthcare services.
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Amr Hegazi, MD, joins the Comprehensive Pain Center ; Hospital in-patient pain management services now available - 03/04/10 >SALEM — The Comprehensive Pain Center, a part of Salem Health, welcomes Amr Hegazi, MD. Dr. Hegazi will join the pain management team providing medication management and comprehensive and interventional pain management services.
"In our first year, the demand for pain management services has exceeded our expectations," says Ahmed Ebeid, MD, medical director for the Comprehensive Pain Center. "We are very fortunate to attract someone of Dr. Hegazi's caliber to join our team. It will make getting pain appointments easier for patients and enable us to respond to referring physician desires to provide hospital in-patient consultations, as well as out-patient services."
Dr. Hegazi worked for more than five years at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, in anesthesiology and pain management. Prior to that, at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, he completed his pain management fellowship, as well as his surgery intership and anesthesiology residencies. While at Texas Tech, Dr. Hegazi received awards including outstanding fellow, outstanding senior resident, outstanding researcher and best teaching resident. He received his medical degree from Alexandria University School of Medicine in Alexandria, Egypt.
"The philosophy of the Comprehensive Pain Center serves patients well," says Dr. Hegazi. "Looking at the many aspects of pain helps tremendously in solving complex pain cases. There is rarely a ‘one-size fits all' solution and being part of a team that takes a broader view, instead of just a standard approach, is what is important."
Dr. Hegazi loves hunting, camping, sports and fishing. He moved to Salem with his wife and three children.
New hospital in-patient pain management service
The Comprehensive Pain Center is now offering pain management consultations to hospitalized patients at Salem Hospital based on requests from treating physicians.
"We've had a few dozen requests from physicians over the last six months that we've been able to cover," says Dr. Ebeid. "Now that Dr. Hegazi is here, we have the ability to serve patients at our office, as well as at the hospital when requested."
The Comprehensive Pain Center provides medication review, interventional pain management, implantable solutions, and Multi-D (multidisciplinary) services, in addition to the new in-patient pain management service.
For more information, please call 503-562-6002.
The Comprehensive Pain Center is part of Salem Health. Salem Health includes Salem Hospital, West Valley Hospital, Willamette Health Partners, and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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Palliative care: New program helps seriously ill patients improve quality of life - 03/01/10 >Salem — Many people living with illnesses such as cancer, heart disease or kidney failure experience hard-to-control physical symptoms and emotional distress related to their diseases and treatment.
Now Salem Hospital's new palliative care program can help people with serious illnesses improve their quality of life. The care team includes physicians, nurses, social workers and chaplains, with support from dietitians, physical therapists, pharmacists and complimentary medicine practitioners. Together they help patients understand and find relief from disease symptoms.
Initially, the palliative care program is seeing patients through the Salem Cancer Institute. An $84,600 grant from the Salem Hospital Foundation is funding a clinical nurse educator for the program and providing materials that give patients and families new ideas for managing serious illnesses. A $17,600 grant from The Regence Foundation is providing money for planning and implementation, as well as staff training at the Palliative Care Leadership Center in Portland.
"The assistance provided by the Salem Hospital Foundation and The Regence Foundation has been absolutely essential," says Becky Ruppert, RN, palliative care nurse. "Palliative care changes lives of patients and families for the better, and these Foundations have made that happen."
Learn more about Salem Hospital's new palliative care program by calling Becky Ruppert at 503-561-3133. To learn how you can help the Foundation support services like palliative care, call 503-561-5576.
Keep your brain healthy and youthful, class begins March 1 - 02/23/10 >Salem — The Community Health Education Center (CHEC) at Salem Hospital is offering a seven-week Brain Agility program beginning on Monday, March 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. and continuing Mondays through April 12. The Brain Agility program is designed to help you keep a healthy and youthful brain. Weekly presentations on brain health are combined with a unique program designed by a psychologist to enhance your brain's ability to remember, stay focused, be aware, and be alert. Enjoy daily mental exercises covering a number of cognitive functions with increasing levels of difficulty to continue challenging your brain as it improves.
The brain agility class will be held at the Community Health Education Center located on the first floor of Building D on the Salem Hospital campus, 939 Oak St. SE. Parking is available in the visitor parking garage on the corner of Mission Street Southeast and Capitol Street Southeast. The cost for the Brain Agility program is $35 and it is open to anyone in the community. Space is limited, however, and advance registration is required. To reserve a spot, please visit http://salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-CHEC (2432).
The Community Health Education Center and Salem Hospital are each a part of Salem Health, which includes West Valley Hospital and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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Enjoy dinner and learn how to prepare heart-healthy culinary delights - 02/22/10 >SALEM—On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Community Health Education Center (CHEC) and the Salem Cardiovascular Center host an educational and culinary class as the final Heart Month community event. From 6 to 8 p.m., Cardiac Surgeon Tom Winkler, MD, and Ken Kudla, a former Salem Hospital cardiac patient, will prepare a heart- healthy meal to be enjoyed by all while emphasizing the importance of heart-healthy cooking. Held in The Gehlar Wellness Kitchen at the CHEC, the cooking class is $20 and pre-registration is required.
"A healthy diet and lifestyle are the most powerful weapons in fighting heart disease," says Lori James-Nielsen, RN, director of the Salem Cardiovascular Center for Salem Health. "We're excited that Dr. Winkler and Mr. Kudla are willing to showcase their talents to help the community see how easy it is to keep heart-health at the forefront."
Dr. Winkler graduated from the University of Colorado and completed his internship at the University of California, Davis. He is board-certified by the American Board of surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the Royal College of Surgeons for vascular, cardiac and thoracic surgery. Dr. Winkler treats patients at The Oregon Clinic and does his cardiac surgeries at Salem Hospital.
Ken Kudla, Salem Health's chief information officer, recovered from a successful quadruple heart-bypass surgery. With a family history of heart disease, Kudla now reads labels, monitors his sodium and saturated fat intake, and loves to cook with heart healthy principles in mind.
To pre-register, go to salemhospital.org/chec or call the Community Health Education Center at 503-814-CHEC (2432).
Salem Health includes Salem Hospital, West Valley Hospital, the Community Health Education Center and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley. Salem Hospital ranked number one in Oregon for cardiac surgery four years in a row (2007-2010) and for overall cardiac services in 2009 by HealthGrades.®
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Improving your health during retirement - 02/10/10 >Salem — The Community Health Education Center (CHEC) at Salem Hospital is offering several classes this month all focused on improving health during retirement and providing you with the information needed to stay healthy. Unless noted otherwise, all classes will be held at the Community Health Education Center located on the first floor of Building D on the Salem Hospital campus, 939 Oak St. SE. Parking is available in the visitor parking garage on the corner of Mission Street Southeast and Capitol Street Southeast.
February CHEC Classes -
Better Balance and Fall Prevention: Eight-week program helping seniors age 65 and older improve balance and prevent falls. Begins Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. and continues on Tuesday and Thursdays through April 8. This class will take place at the Regional Rehabilitation Center located at 2561 Center St. NE in Salem. Participants must be living independently in the community, not currently using a walker (cane is acceptable), and not have had more than two falls in the last six months. $48 for 16 sessions. Advance registration is required.
Culinary Rx: Heart-smart Kitchen Savvy: Learn how to prepare heart-smart meals in your own kitchen with pantry stocking tips, tools and resources that make it easy. Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. $20. Advance registration required.
Untangling the Web: Learn how to search for and evaluate health websites and find credible information. Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. $10. Advance registration required.
Healthy Back: Learn how to keep your back strong and decrease the risk of injury. Easy-to-follow strength and flexibility exercises included. Friday, Feb. 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. $5. Advance registration required.
NIA Focus exercise program: Learn how to keep your heart strong with whole body conditioning classes appropriate for any age or fitness level. Includes focus on balance and proper body alignment. Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., beginning Feb. 22 and running through March 24. $50. Advance registration is required.
To register for any of these classes, please visit http://salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-CHEC (2432).
The Community Health Education Center and Salem Hospital are each a part of Salem Health, which includes West Valley Hospital and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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Regain strength with RISE exercise program at CHEC - 02/10/10 >Salem — The Community Health Education Center at Salem Hospital will be offering RISE (Recovery in Strength and Exercise), an exercise program designed specifically for people suffering from loss of strength due to illness, surgery or medication side-effects. The class covers several different modes of exercise to promote total body wellness and includes information on balance, flexibility and restorative relaxation techniques. The focus is on functional strength conditioning appropriate to the individual while offering the support of a small group setting.
The RISE class will be taught by Nancy Baldwin, certified cancer exercise specialist and ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, and will take place on Mondays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., beginning on Feb. 22 and running through April 1. The classes will be held at the Community Health Education Center located on the first floor of Building D on the Salem Hospital campus, 939 Oak St. SE. Parking is available in the visitor parking garage on the corner of Mission Street Southeast and Capitol Street Southeast. Cost of the six-week program is $50 and pre-registration is required. To register, please visit http://salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-CHEC (2432).
The Community Health Education Center and Salem Hospital are each a part of Salem Health, which includes West Valley Hospital and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley.
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