Protected: Noah’s Children
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Project SEARCH: 6 gifted students who touched our hearts
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...In June 2010, Bon Secours Richmond, in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University as well as Richmond City and Henrico County schools celebrated an amazing achievement: The first graduation of the class of Project SEARCH.
Project SEARCH was established to connect area employers to students with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Students worked closely with Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital staff in areas like sterile supply, environmental services and linnen services to learn job skills. In turn, they brought smiles to faces and warmth to hearts around the organization. In the words of one service area leader: “These kids brought more to our team than we could ever give to them.”
These six students made incredible strides during their time with Bon Secours; represented by the culmination speech that each student gave in front of more than 100 proud supporters and fans.
As an exciting surprise, a capstone on the day, Bon Secours announced that we will extend job offers to each of these talented young adults.
Congratulations Project SEARCH class of 2010!
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Meet Wesley Farnsworth, the man with the bionic heart
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5) Loading ...In June 2010, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital discharged our first patient implanted with a Left Ventricular Assist Device or LVAD. The device, dubbed a bionic heart, helps a failing heart pump blood throughout the body. Mr. Wesley Farnsworth’s treatment team included Bon Secours Advanced Heart Failure Center Director Gary Zeevi, MD.
Marc Katz, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the Heart & Vascular Institute, performed the surgery, implanting the HeartMate II into a 53-year-old patient from Virginia. Dr. Katz has preformed over 50 LVAD implantations, although this was the first for the Bon Secours system.
St. Mary’s is one of only five community hospitals in the U.S. to offer implantation of the HeartMate II. LVADs formerly were only available at transplant centers.
St. Mary’s offers the LVAD to patients as either a “bridge-to-transplant” whereby it acts as a temporary heart until transplantation can take place; or as a “destination” procedure, which means that the HeartMate II becomes a functioning heart for the patient.
The LVAD device consists of an impeller, or pump, which is surgically implanted into the patient. The pump is connected to the aorta and the heart. A small control and power line runs through the abdominal wall and connects to the HeartMate II system controller; the controller is the brains of the LVAD system. Mr. Farnsworth will also wear two batteries in an external holster which can power the device for 10 hours. When he is home, Mr. Farnsworth can plug into a power supply. In addition to notifying the local power company that he is a priority during a power outage, St. Mary’s teams worked with local EMS and first responders on how to care for Mr. Farnsworth should he have an emergency. For instance, since the LVAD provides continuous circulation, Mr. Farnsworth has no pulse.
Bon Secours is proud of Wesley Farnsworth and the journey he has taken. Caring for patients with cardiac disease is one of our many specialties. In Mr. Farnsworth’s own words, “If you think there may be something wrong with your heart, do not hesitate to see a doctor.”
To learn more about the LVAD device contact the Bon Secours Heart and Vascular Institute
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East End Charrette
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The East End Vision project, a “charrette” for Richmond’s Church Hill and East End neighborhoods is well underway. The week long project, which is a joint venture with the City of Richmond, brings together community leaders, area residents, civic leaders, business owners and area businesses to plan the future of the community.
The East End Vision blog, an offshoot of this site, is following the process. You can read more here.
Below: Sister Anne Marie Mack, CBS, reflects on the charrette process and shares why it is important for Bon Secours and Richmond Community Hospital.
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World class healthcare is right here in Central Virginia
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...“We have a lot to be proud of, I am not sure it has sunk in that one of the best hospitals in the country is in our own back yard, here in the Richmond area.” That is the reaction of Michael Robinson, CEO of Memorial Regional Medical Center and Richmond Community Hospital.
In March of 2010, Bon Secours Memorial Regional was listed by Tompson Reuters as an Everest Award Winner, part of an elite group of 23 hospitals among the 100 selected as the top hospitals in the country.
As the only Virginia hospital to be honored, Memorial stands as an example of the quality care the entire Bon Secours Virginia system provides to our community. We are privileged to provide the highest standard of care in the country to the central Virginia region.
For our leaders like Robinson, the recognition of clinical excellence and compassionate care is no surprise. “This is what we do, every day, consistently,” he said. “This is a recognition of our engaged patients and the community we serve. This is where I would bring my family and know they are in the very best hands.”
To read more about the Tompson Reuters list and the “balanced scorecard” approach to their ranking, visit their website here.
Hear more from Michael Robinson about the Thompson Reuters Top 100 Hospital honor in this clip
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It all begins with you!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...The mission of Bon Secours Virginia Health System is to bring good help to those in need. We know that good help starts with a world-class work force. Bon Secours employees are some of the most highly engaged in the world. This year, for our annual employee engagement survey, we took to the floors and departments. We asked folks how they feel about being part of a world-class team of caregivers. Our employees made this video on their own:
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Miraculous ending to one Haiti medical mission as another begins
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...The Salva Vida / Bon Secours medical mission team returned home last week. After almost two weeks in Haiti, the team was tired, rewarded, saddened and inspired. What follows is JoAnn McCaffrey’s last update before returning home:
Pictured: The Salva Vida / Bon Secours team. JoAnn McCaffrey (left in beige), Dr. Fred McGlynn (behind Ms. McCaffrey)
Sunday, 2.28. I want to share with you one final story: One night’s miracle .
About 9 p..m. a young mother arrived at the hospital with her 3 month old baby girl in severe respiratory distress. Hardly breathing and unable to nurse for some time–she was struggling to live.The baby’s father and the young mother’s family had died in the earthquake, and she had fled Port au Prince for the mountains–with nothing but her baby. As it happened an ER doctor and tech were doing some outreach in the area, and came upon the child. They provided primary care and hurried 4 hrs down the mountain to the hospital in Cayes Jacmel where we were. Our gifted team of docs, anesthesiologists and critical care nurses went to work. For a while it seemed the child was too far gone, but after some amazing interventions, they were able to turn the situation around.
Since there’s no ICU and there were no empty cots or even space to put a mat between beds, the mother and baby came home with the team. They slept on a mattress on the floor of the house where some of us were sleeping–surrounded by nurses and docs ready to be on call! The young traumatized mother asked to take a shower, probably the first in many days. They slept through the night, the baby began taking nourishment, and in the morning given food and clothing. She and the baby left rested and grateful.All of our team are home now, those from Mercy Children’s in Kansas City, two Haitian-born nurses from Coral Springs, FL, (who were an invaluable asset to our team), and the three of us from Richmond. We’re so grateful for all of the prayer and support you offered during our stay. Let us all continue to pray for the volunteers, nurses, docs, techs, builders, handy-men, rescue teams, pilots…all who contribute physically and financially…But let us especially not cease to hold in our hearts the people of Haiti during their long long road ahead to recovery.
Just as the Salva Vita team returned to the United States, another team, this time from the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing, departed for Haiti. It is expected that they will not have the same ability to communicate during their trip. GoodSharing will look forward to sharing their story when they return home.
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Hard Work, Hard Sights in Haiti
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Bon Secours currently has two teams on the island of Hispaniola. Our Memorial College of Nursing is currently in the Dominican Republic treating many of the sick, injured and those in need of compassion from d’evenement. In addition to the College of Nursing, our Salva Vida team continues to serve the people of Cayes Jacmel. It has not been an easy mission, but it has one been one of intense reward.
Our teams in Haiti are thankful for your comments here, on Twitter and Facebook. Please keep them coming. If you have a question, post it here – help connect our powerful internet community with the compassionate, skilled team in Haiti.
Here is the latest update from the Salva Vida team, courtesy of JoAnn McCaffery:
Another full day with some 300 hundred patients coming to the hospital. Many cases are not directly post earthquake, but general illness due to chronic hunger or poor diet and hard living conditions: parasites, infections, scabies, malaria and some typhoid fever, respiratory and gastric problems, hernias, difficult pregnancies, many vision and dental problems, etc.
Then there are others directly related to the earthquake, [such as] fractures, crushed limbs, and untreated or infected wounds. And it’s rare to meet someone who hasn’t a relative or friend, teacher or co-worker, who was killed by the quake. They often don’t even mention it unless asked.
Late afternoon, 12 of us climbed into the back of an open truck [, and took] a ride through the actual town of Jacmel, about 15 miles from the hospital which is in Cayes Jacmel. Were able to see first hand some of the destruction wreaked be the quake. Houses cracked or split in half, tumbled and crumbled walls, 2-3 storied buildings flattened like pancakes. Located on the ocean, Jacmel has been considered one of the prettiest towns in Haiti, with some very old and beautiful homes. The oldest part of Jacmel, well known as an artist area, was. most affected by the quake.
For the Haiti Team
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Bon Secours Virginia named in top 10 integrated health systems, nationwide
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Bon Secours is thrilled to be recognized by SDI for clinical and service excellence. This recognition highlights our commitment to serving Central and Tidewater Virginia. Learn more about SDI, the honorees and the metric process at there website.
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Good Sharing from a Care-A-Van patient
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...Editors Note: Every day across Bon Secours Virginia, each team and department gathers together for our Daily Huddles. The huddles are our chance to share stories from around the system and celebrate successes. From time to time on GoodSharing we will post stories from our daily huddles. You can find them at www.bonsecoursgoodsharing.org/huddles
Today’s Moment of Recognition comes from a Bon Secours Hampton Roads patient who recently discovered the Care-A-Van, a “tool” we use to serve our community with excellence.
In a letter, the patient shared:
“I am grateful I found the Care-A-Van. I don’t know what I would have done had this team not entered my life. After I was recently discharged from Ambulatory Care in Norfolk, all other doors seem to close on me.
I was provided phone numbers for medical health services at the health department and free clinics, but waiting lists of 5-6 months prevented me from getting an appointment. I had no doctor, no medicine and was sick. I could hardly walk because of my arthritis. I was taking 80 Aleve a week for pain, and it didn’t help.
I even asked God to end my life.
My mother heard about the Care-A-Van on the news and suggeted I visit. What a blessing! The doctors and staff helped me, gave me hope and cared for me. Every day, I feel stronger, and can walk better than I have in years. Thank you to the entire Care-A-Van team for helping me. You are a blessing to our entire community.”
Thank you team! You are World Class!
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