St. Mary’s Hospital Emergency Department, ranked in the nation’s top 5 percent by HealthGrades, has a long-standing reputation for outstanding treatment. But as patient visits increased each year — up to 65,500 in 2010 — it became obvious that expansion was necessary to continue this world-class care.

“We do a nationally recognized job in quality care in emergency medicine,” said Joe Rudisill, Director of Planning and Project Management at St. Mary’s. “But we needed to help expand access for our growing community demand.”

Work began in March to expand both the Adult and Pediatric Emergency Departments and take care giving to an even higher level. When complete, the state-of- the-art facility will have more beds, more technology and be ready to handle more patients.

Expanding, renovating

The Pediatric Emergency Department will focus on patients who make up nearly a third of the overall Emergency Department visitors.

“Ours is an Emergency Department totally focused on children,” said Toni Ardabell, CEO of St. Mary’s. “We have a solid, experienced team in place. With the growth of the shows how the department we will be able to accommodate our young patients in an area totally dedicated to children.”

It will include:

• A separate entrance, waiting area and triage space, so youngsters won’t interact with adult patients at any time
• Dedicated digital X-ray suite
• 12 treatment rooms for children
• Two large resuscitation bays

Continuing our great care

“This expansion will allow us to meet the community’s needs regarding pediatric emergency care by providing superb child-friendly and family-centered care,” said Dr. Randall Geldreich, FAAP, FAAEM, Medical Director of Pediatric Emergency Services at St. Mary’s.

Bon Secours employs dedicated pediatric physicians, nurses and hospitalists and continues to recruit pediatric emergency fellowship-trained physicians, said Geldreich. “We already have several fellowship-trained pediatric emergency physicians, with an additional one already recruited to join the department in August.”

The Emergency Department will expand into formerly non-clinical, administrative space as well as require a build-out of the hospital. The west side of St. Mary’s, facing Bremo Road, will incorporate a new walkway.

On the south side, the entry will be reconfigured. By adding a separate pedestrian entrance and an expanded ambulance canopy to accommodate additional emergency vehicles, the goal is to make patient arrivals safer and more efficient. EMS teams were involved in planning to ensure the most efficient design.

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Now, thanks to advances in cardiac care at Bon Secours, he’s again a gym regular and his appetite is back.

Driscoll, 74, of Amelia, had congestive heart failure for years and his condition was worsening. In September, he received a left ventricular-assist device (LVAD), a machine that replicates the pumping work of the left side of the heart. Now home with a portable LVAD, life is good, he said.

“I was on the verge of death, no question about it,” he said. “Now, I’m back at the gym, walking a mile and doing light weights. It’s amazing.”

Driscoll is one of a number of patients who’ve been helped by the latest breakthroughs in cardiac care. Not only are problems identified earlier, but treatments are safer, recovery times shorter and outlooks brighter.

New options for care

Spreading the word about new technology is a never-ending mission for Dr. Gary R. Zeevi, Medical Director of Bon Secours’ Advanced Heart Failure Center and LVAD program.

“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time. You look at it and wonder, ‘where will it be in five years?’

“It’s pretty amazing, but it only works if you can apply it to a patient,” he said. “A lot depends on getting word out and having people understand what we offer.”

Knowing what to do

Some people, like Driscoll, live with conditions that worsen over time. Others present suddenly with symptoms.

King William County resident William “Milton” Johnson was in his early 30s when he had a heart attack. There were no warning signs.

“I was playing softball when my chest started to hurt. I knew something was wrong, so we called an ambulance,” said Johnson, now 38.

After the episode, he received a defibrillator and, last fall, an LVAD. Eventually, he said, he will need a transplant. But with quality cardiac care and the support of his family, he plans to be around to watch his two children grow up.

“I’m more than pleased with Bon Secours,” Johnson said. “The staff there is great. They’ve made it a lot easier for me and my wife. I feel good.”

A team effort

Whether identifying potential problems or performing heart transplants and a myriad of other procedures, cardiac care at Bon Secours is a team effort.

“We get amazing support from everyone. The staff embraces the technology and everyone picks it up so quickly,” said Lisa Austin, ACNP, VAD Coordinator at the Advanced
Heart Failure Center.

“Every department, every aspect is a team effort. We couldn’t do it without nursing,
occupational therapy, physical therapy, the blood bank, the pharmacy, nutrition services,
volunteers and administration.”

This dedication and new treatment options translate to optimized patient outcomes.
“There are a lot of things we can do,” said Zeevi. “There are a lot of ways we can help
people, whether it’s balloons or stents or pacemakers or other devices.

“I enjoy the process of thinking through and being able to then deliver care. There
are so many folks that need help — and there are so many ways we can approach care for the patients.”

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No one knows that better than the nurses in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Labor and Delivery and Mother and Infant Units. That is why they have worked to make that magical moment last longer.

A new approach
In the past, nurses took most babies to the nursery shortly after delivery, leaving mothers in Labor and Delivery.

Now, nursery staff come to the mother’s recovery room to care for the baby, so mother and newborn can stay together. Next month marks the one-year anniversary of the new approach.

“It was hard work,” said Mary Otero, Nurse Manager, Mother and Infant Unit. “We reviewed the literature, revised policies and educated staff, because we totally changed the way we deliver care.

“But as soon as we did this, our families started saying, ‘Wow. This is wonderful,’” she said.

Richmond resident Caroline Budwell noticed the remarkable change. She delivered her first daughter in 2008 and her second daughter this year.

“I loved it. Having my second child there was totally different because I got to keep her with me after delivery,” said Budwell. “And it meant my parents could meet her sooner, instead of waiting for her to return from the nursery.”

Family-centered care
Research shows that keeping baby and mother together immediately following birth helps ensure successful bonding and breast feeding, said Beverly McInnis, Maternal Child Clinical Nurse Specialist.

This shift reflects the hospital’s commitment to family-centered care — a philosophy that means the patient’s family is a part of the team.

“The emphasis on family-centered care is part of our desire to give our patients and their families a world-class experience” said Amy Burkholder, Nurse Manager of Labor and Delivery.

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Submitted by: Sherry Fox, Director and Interim Vice President of Oncology

As the Cullather Center marks its fourth anniversary, we are celebrating “good that makes good happen.” The good that started with Jack and Jean Cullather’s vision and their initial financial gift to Bon Secours has turned into one of the most innovative services for brain tumor patients in the country.

Four years of service have brought us in contact with 442 wonderful brain tumor patients and their families. Currently, we are serving 323 individuals and their significant others. In May 2010, we doubled our monthly new patient volume for the first time in our history. Amazingly, we now serve patients not only in Virginia, but in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Texas. Talk about good news spreading!

The good we do for patient services continues to expand. In addition to the education, support, financial assistance and respite care services we already provide, it is our goal to add at least two new services each year. This past year we surpassed that goal and added three new services, including social work, massage therapy and an online caregiver support group. These services are made possible by the good done through our network of volunteers, our fundraisers, memorial donations and through the generous support of Bon Secours.

Because “good makes good happen,” we are setting our sights high and plan to add at least three patient services to our center in 2010-2011. The additional services will help individuals strive for wellness in the face of illness. Services will include nutritional consultations, music and art therapy, yoga, and a spirituality support group.

If you know individuals who have been diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor, please refer them to the Cullather Brain Tumor Quality of Life Center. We serve all patients regardless of where they receive treatment for their brain tumors. Please see our website at www.braintumorqol.org or call (804) 287-7809 for more information.

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(Left to right: Patty Hall, Bonnie Price, Sara Jennings)

Patty Hall, a volunteer with the Regional Hospital Accompaniment Response Team (RHART) since November 2009, and the Forensic Nursing Team at St. Mary’s Hospital face the after effects of domestic, sexual or interpersonal violence every day.

“It’s not like on TV. Exams can take two to four hours, not including paperwork,” said Bonnie Price, Clinical Coordinator of the Forensic Nursing Program. “The amount of time takes a toll on patients, which is why RHART volunteers like Patty, make a real difference.”

Known for her compassion and selflessness, Patty is a true testament to the phrase good help to those in need. Bonnie describes an instance where Patty reached across traditional volunteerism boundaries to help console a patient.

“It is late in the evening and the pager goes off. The St. Mary’s Hospital ED is calling about a patient brought in by police and a forensic exam is being requested. The patient has no family or friends at the hospital with her. The next call I make is to the Regional Hospital Accompaniment Response Team (RHART) Hotline. RHART is a team of specially trained volunteers, who provide emotional support for patients who have been a victim of sexual and/or domestic violence. Moments after arriving at the emergency department, Patty Hall walks in. Patty, a Bon Secours RHART Volunteer, immediately began to put the patient at ease with her soft, calming voice and her cheerful yet sympathetic smile. Patty stayed with the patient for hours, while the forensic exam was completed. Upon completion of the exam, the patient was asked by police to return to what was believed to be the scene of the crime with them, in order to confirm the location and in hopes of finding additional evidence. Without a moment’s hesitation, Patty offered to go with the patient; an offer which the patient quickly and gratefully accepted. Patty’s selfless act made a difference in the life of our patient. At Bon Secours, not only is our staff World Class but also our volunteers!”

When asked why the RHART volunteers and Forensic Nurses do what they do, Sara Jennings, a Forensic Nurse Examiner, replied, “It’s a wonderful rewarding job. Being able to help and seeing the effect on the patient makes all the difference.”

RHART is a collaboration between Bon Secours, Hanover Safe Place, Safe Harbor, and the YWCA of Richmond. Trained RHART volunteers are called in by Bon Secours Richmond Health System hospitals to provide accompaniment during forensic or medical exams. RHART volunteers provide supportive counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy, resources and referral information. They also connect patients to additional domestic and sexual violence follow-up services, including counseling, court advocacy and emergency shelter.

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I was [recently a patient] at St Francis Medical Center. I would like to share a portion of my experience with you.

At the time of my admission, my wife and I were expecting [the birth of our child]. [Just as my wife was due,] I found myself being admitted to St Francis. I was admitted on a Monday and the following day, my wife… was admitted to [another local hospital]. So my wife and I were admitted to different hospitals at the same time.

I would also like to tell you about my experience with a phenomenal employee named Stephen Simmons who delivered my food tray. Some might say that he was “just” someone who delivered food trays to the rooms but he is much more than that. In fact, as I recall my days there, his delivering my food was the smallest part of what he did for me. Stephen walked in my room each time with a spirit of compassion and kind words laden with encouragement. He made it a point to stop by and check on me if he was on the floor at any other time.  I realize the challenges of asking a patient “How are you today?” Yet and still he asked with each visit and then listen to my response. I was extremely stressed and still each visit by Stephen was the same. He asked how I was and then each time spoke words of encouragement and prayed for and with me. The Lord allowed our paths to cross once again yesterday and that prompted me to write to you today.

The nursing staff and Stephen kept me encouraged and cared very well for me. I would like to recognize Stephen and each of the nurses and Techs that cared for me during my inpatient stay. I pray that you will take the time to check my medical record and retrieve the names of those who cared for me for they are truly worthy of praise.

In the spring of 2010 Bon Secours Richmond produced an internal video highlighting our spirit of engagement. Stephen was filmed for video. The unedited clip below is what compassionate care means, in his own words. “I bring a smile to everybody’s heart, I bring them sunshine and I bring them food.” Bon Secours is proud of Stephen, and his team mates at St. Francis who make world-class care their passion, every day.

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According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, e-patients with a chronic illness use online health resources to manage their illness, look up pertinent information before and after a doctor visit, as well as communicate with other patients in online support groups.

Jenn Michelle Pedini, former Disney performer and marketing professional and now mother of one, turned to the internet for answers after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008. After a six month battle with the cancer including 12 rounds of chemotherapy, Jenn Michelle was re-diagnosed with the illness and more aggressive treatments were scheduled for her.

With the recent outbreak of H1N1 virus, Jenn Michelle, who continues to battle the disease, turned to social media when her providers couldn’t help her find a vaccination. Having a H1N1 vaccination was a pre-requisite that Jenn Michelle needed prior to her stem cell transplant last fall.

“I was amazed that a hospital not affiliated with my care was willing to reach out and help,” said Pedini. “Bon Secours is the only health system that I’ve met and interacted with online.”

Bon Secours’ social media advocates picked up on Jenn Michelle’s request via Twitter in November 2009. Our social media advocates worked with our physician practices to find the right fit. Theresa Kimbrough, Practice Manager at Bon Secours Patterson Avenue Family Practice, jumped at the chance to help and was able to schedule Jenn Michelle within one day.

“The doctor’s office was ready for me as soon as I called to set up an appointment,” said Pedini.

Follow Jenn Michelle’s journey on her blog, www.bitsofmyself.com, or on Twitter at @BitsOfMyself. You can also connect with Bon Secours on Twitter at @BonSecoursRVA

Jenn Michelle has generously consented to share her story with us and our online community.

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