Happy Halloween from Elk Regional

Happy Halloween, everyone! 

This morning, we'd like to share some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that will help keep your little trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween. Click here for more information!

Elk Regional Gives Back to the Cameron County Family Center

Elk Regional Health System employees recently made a donation to the Cameron County Family Center through the Elk Regional Gives Back program, through which employees pay a small fee to wear jeans to work on some Fridays. Each quarter, the funds raised are donated to non-profit organizations that serve residents of Elk and Cameron counties.

 Presenting the check to Heidi Aikens, the Family Center Director, is Lisa Housler, Elk Regional’s Director of Ancillary Services. With Mrs. Housler and Mrs. Aikens are, from left, Kasey Bryan, a phlebotomist in the Laboratory; Christian Clancy, Elk Regional’s Lead MRI Technologist; Jackie Smith, a phlebotomist in the Laboratory; Kristen Eckert of the Family Center; Wanda Smith, the Family Center’s Administrative Assistant; and Kendra Graham of the Family Center.

Elk Regional is Prepared for Hurricane Sandy

Elk Regional has been carefully monitoring Hurricane Sandy, and we'd like to assure everyone that we are fully prepared for the storm! Our backup power generators have been tested. We also have plenty of food and water available. Unless conditions deteriorate, patient appointments and procedures will take place as scheduled.

Health System Auxiliary Announces Book Sale

It's never too early to start Christmas shopping, right? Right! 

Starting Monday, Oct. 29, the Elk Regional Health System Auxiliary will be holding a Book Sale. This is the perfect opportunity to buy some books, gifts, and stocking stuffers for your loved ones!

The sale begins on Oct. 29 at our Ridgway campus in the main lobby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 31, the sale will move to our St. Marys campus in the Education Center. On Tuesday, the sale will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Wednesday, the sale runs from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit our Auxiliary, which has made a $250,000 pledge to the capital campaign that is supporting our building project. 

 

We'll see you there!

Counting Down to the Move & Groove for a Cure!

We're continuing the countdown to Saturday's Move & Groove for a Cure

Raising awareness and educating women about breast cancer IS making a difference. You can join the fight! Head to www.elkregional.org to register for our 5K Run/Walk or our four-hour Zumba Fitness Party -- or both, if you're feeling adventurous -- and let's work together to empower women. 

We'll see you on Saturday!

Elk Regional Encourages Women to Schedule A Mammogram

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month ... and that means it's the perfect opportunity to schedule your annual mammogram or encourage the special women in your life to do so! Call us at (814) 788-5445 to set up your mammogram in our new, state-of-the-art Women's Imaging Center. Your all-digital images will be ready and read by a Board certified Radiologist quickly!

Go ahead. Pick up the phone. Make the promise to yourself and your loved ones. Pinky swear! :)

Elk Regional's New Floor Nears Completion

So you know that new floor we're building? It's getting awfully close to being done! We'll be inviting you to a special community open house very soon, so keep your eyes out for the announcement. We won't spoil the surprise, but here's just a little peek ...

Cutting-Edge Laser Surgery Comes to the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center

Jeffrey Rice, DMD, PC, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, is now offering outpatient laser resurfacing and facial cosmetic surgical procedures at the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center, an affiliate of the Elk Regional Health System.

“I’m very excited to offer laser resurfacing and excision for patients at the Surgery Center,” Dr. Rice said. The laser opens up more options and choices for patients who previously could not have undergone treatment for facial lesions or skin cancer because they take blood-thinning medications.”

“We are pleased to work with Dr. Rice to offer laser resurfacing at the Surgery Center,” said Kathy Wortman, RN, BSN, the Administrator and Clinical Director at the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center. “Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is now considered the gold standard in facial skin rejuvenation and the excision of lesions. We are proud to offer yet another cutting-edge surgical procedure to patients in the region.”

Laser resurfacing is an elective procedure that removes wrinkles and improves the quality of a patient’s skin. It is ideal for treating patients who suffer from acne scarring or sun-damaged skin, or who have precancerous lesions.

In years past, cosmetic surgeons would have used procedures such as chemical peeling, dermabrasion, scar revision, and silicone injection to treat these conditions and diminish the appearance of scars and wrinkles. But advances in laser technology over the last 10 years have allowed surgeons like Dr. Rice to perform the procedures using a special carbon dioxide laser.

Carbon dioxide lasers can be used to treat different benign and malignant skin conditions. They use very short pulsed light energy or continuous light beams to precisely remove thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage to the surrounding structures. This enables Dr. Rice to use the laser to treat oral and skin lesions. The laser cauterizes wounds to prevent bleeding, which means patients who take anticoagulants can undergo surgery for facial lesions without stopping their medication.

“That’s very important for my patients,” Dr. Rice said. “There are so many people who have had heart stents or other cardiac conditions who cannot stop taking their anticoagulant. Previously, these patients would have been unable to undergo surgery. The laser has opened up a whole new world for these patients.”

The laser also seals the lymph drains, reducing the chance that any cancerous tumors or lesions will be able to spread.

Surgery with a carbon dioxide laser offers other benefits to the patient. Because the laser seals nerve endings and blood vessels, patients typically experience reduced post-operative pain and swelling, minimal bleeding, and a faster recovery time. Patients also experience a lower risk of infection because the laser beam operates at high temperatures that sterilize the affected area as diseased tissue is removed.

For more information about the new procedures, call the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center at (814) 781-6565.

Elk Regional Announces Flu Shot Clinics

It's flu shot season! 

Our friends at Community Nurses, Inc. are offering inexpensive flu shots throughout the month of October. This year's flu vaccine will protect you against H1N1 and two other strains of the seasonal flu. 

For details on when and where you can get your vaccine, check out our Facebook Events listing or visit our online Events calendar on the Elk Regional Web site.

Let us help keep you healthy this flu season!

Lymphedema Treatment Makes A Difference for Patients

Sometimes, a patient who has suffered cancer, had surgery, or experienced trauma to a limb will develop severe swelling that doesn’t go away on its own. This swelling, which can be debilitating and result in the loss of function, is a result of a problem with the body’s lymph system and is called lymphedema.

Lymphedema most commonly affects one arm or one leg, but it can be present in both arms and both legs. It can even affect other areas of the body, such as the hands, feet, chest, back, neck, face, and abdomen. Symptoms include swelling, a thickening and tightening of the skin around the affected limb or area, and a feeling of heaviness in the affected limb.

While lymphedema isn’t curable, it can be effectively treated. Elk Regional’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Department has offered lymphedema treatment for the last 10 years. Kerri Coudriet, a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist at Elk Regional, is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist with 14 years of experience in the field.

Mrs. Coudriet works with her patients to provide an initial evaluation and expectations for their treatment. She educates them on precautions they can take to prevent their condition from worsening and shows them how to perform therapeutic exercises at home on their own.

“The goal of lymphedema therapy is to treat the swelling while considering the distress and discomfort that a patient is feeling,” Mrs. Coudriet said. “My patients have different medical needs, different goals, support systems, pain levels, and treatment tolerances. That’s why I work so hard to individualize treatment plans for my patients.”

Those who can benefit from lymphedema therapy include those who suffer from chronic pain ailments, such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and migraine headaches. Lymphedema therapy can also be beneficial for those whose lymph system still functions but is impaired due to trauma, surgery, cancer treatment, lymph node resection, venous insufficiency, wounds, sports-related injuries, and patients who are recovering from orthopaedic surgical procedures such as total joint replacement.

“Lymphedema therapy can make a real difference for patients,” Mrs. Coudriet said. “With ongoing treatment, the swelling can be reduced to a nearly normal level and a patient can regain function in their affected limb. Severe swelling isn’t something that people just have to live with.”

Mrs. Coudriet offers a variety of treatments for those suffering from lymphedema. Manual lymph drainage, a massage designed to help move stagnant lymph fluid from the affected limb, is one such treatment. She also offers bandaging, which uses three to four layers of compression to help the body move lymph fluid. With bandages in place, Mrs. Coudriet helps patients perform exercises designed to help the muscles move lymph fluid.

Mrs. Coudriet also works to educate her patients and their caregivers. She teaches them how to bandage and massage the affected limb, how to perform proper skin and nail care, and how to perform exercises at home.

“Education is one of the most important components of a patient’s treatment,” Mrs. Coudriet said. “Lymphedema is a condition that requires long-term, ongoing care. Patients and caregivers need to know how to effectively provide that care in the home.”

Elk Regional’s lymphedema management program is offered in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Building on the St. Marys campus to patients who have a physician order requesting occupational therapy evaluation and treatment for lymphedema.

Hospitalists Enhance Patient Care at Elk Regional

Elk Regional Health Center is one of a growing number of hospitals across the country using Hospitalists to manage the care of patients who are admitted to the hospital.

“One of the most dramatic changes to health care in the last 15 years has been the emergence of the Hospitalist specialty,” said Karen Meholic, the Director of Elk Regional Professional Group. “Health care in America is making a shift. Care is beginning to be focused upon a certain location, such as a hospital, in conjunction with care provided in an out-patient office setting. Our Hospitalist team is an extension of the continuum of care.”

Elk Regional’s Hospitalist team is a trio of full-time physicians, including Christopher Colosimo, DO; Larry Maturani, MD; and Scott McKimm, DO.

Hospitalists are physicians who manage a patient’s care while that patient is in the hospital. Prior to discharge, the Hospitalist informs the patient’s primary care physician on all medical management changes, including any new prescriptions and adjustments to existing prescriptions.

The process is similar to the one used by the majority of primary care physicians who refer their patients to a specialist. When a patient is admitted to the hospital, the Hospitalist has access to the patient’s medical records so they can make informed decisions about the patient’s care.

Once a patient is discharged, they return to their primary care physician for follow-up care. Hospitalists can also order post-discharge home health care, such as that provided by Community Nurses Inc., an affiliate of the Elk Regional Health System.

There are a number of benefits to using a hospitalist.

“Hospitalists are valuable for patients and physicians, in part because they help coordinate a patient’s care,” Mrs. Meholic said. “They help patients navigate an often daunting network of nurses, surgeons and specialists. They help keep physicians and specialists up-to-date about the care a patient is receiving. That level of coordination means communication happens smoothly – and that can translate to a reduction in a patient’s length of stay and expense.”

Because their primary site of practice is the hospital, Hospitalists are typically able to spend more time with their patients than a primary care physician who must travel back and forth between the hospital and his or her office. Hospitalists can also see patients more than once per day, if necessary. And because Hospitalists are on-site, they are intimately familiar with the hospital environment.   

“I find working as a Hospitalist rewarding because I like the medical complexity of working in a hospital setting,” Dr. Maturani said. “I enjoy helping people manage their medical problems and I enjoy hands-on medicine. Being a Hospitalist allows me to do these things in a way that other specialties may not.”

The use of Hospitalists also has benefits for primary care physicians who are caring for increasing numbers of patients in an outpatient setting. By transferring inpatient care to the Hospitalist and eliminating the need to make rounds at the hospital every day, the primary care physician can see more patients each day on an outpatient basis.

“Our hospitalist program offers us – and, more importantly, our patients – flexibility we have not previously had,” Mrs. Meholic said. “We hope knowing that there is a doctor in-house to answer questions offers our patients and their loved ones some peace of mind. We are proud to be able to enhance our hospitalist program for the benefit of our patients.”


About Elk Regional’s Hospitalists
Dr. Colosimo earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his internship and residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Allentown, PA. He is Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians.

Dr. Maturani earned his medical degree from the St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, the West Indies. He conducted an internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at hospitals in Wilkes-Barre, PA and Scranton, PA, including Mercy Health System, Community Medical Center, and the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital. He is Board certified in Internal Medicine and is certified in basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and advanced trauma life support.

Dr. McKimm earned his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. He performed his internship and residency at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, PA. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Registration Opens for Community Health Screening

Registration is now open for Elk Regional's upcoming Community Health Screening, set for Nov. 10 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Elk County Catholic High School!

During the event, we will be offering five inexpensive tests that will help you gauge your health and your risk for diseases such as diabetes, colon-rectal cancer, prostate cancer and thyroid disease.

• Blood Analysis: $40
• Hemoglobin A1C (Diabetes Screening) : $15
• Colon-Rectal Cancer: $8 for a simple, at-home kit
• PSA Test (Prostate Cancer): $15
• Thyroid Test: $10

Please note that 12-hour fasting is required!

A heart-healthy breakfast will be served by the Elk County Catholic High School Music Boosters.

Register today by calling us at 1 (800) 370-9640 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Let us help keep you healthy!

Elk Regional Welcomes Vice President of Human Resources

Curt L. Oberholtzer, MA, SPHR

Elk Regional Health Center has selected Curt L. Oberholtzer, a Masters-prepared Human Resources executive with more than 20 years of experience in health care, as its Vice President of Human Resources.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Curt to Elk Regional,” Mr. Bauer said. “Our executive search team was impressed with his considerable administrative experience, command of managing a large, complex human resources environment, and his demonstrated success at tackling difficult HR-related issues. I believe he will be instrumental in helping this organization move forward.”

As the Vice President of Human Resources for the Health Center, Mr. Oberholtzer and his staff will work to meet the needs of the nearly 1,100 employees throughout the Health Center and its affiliates. He will be instrumental in revitalizing Elk Regional’s organizational culture, performance management, selection, leadership, and Human Resources Centers.

The move to Elk Regional enables Mr. Oberholtzer, a native of Lancaster, Pa., to return to his home state not far from where he was born and raised.

“It is a privilege to join the leadership team at Elk Regional,” Mr. Oberholtzer said. “As someone with lifelong ties to Pennsylvania, I appreciate the value of an organization such as Elk Regional. I’m excited about the opportunity to share in the effort to build the premier healthcare provider in the region and to help Elk Regional become not only the provider of choice, but the employer of choice as well.”

Mr. Oberholtzer’s position is a significant part of the organizational restructuring plan that was approved by Elk Regional’s Board of Directors in December 2011.

“On a day-to-day basis, there will be things that come about that will cause anxiety – just as there are at any organization of Elk Regional’s size and stature,” Mr. Oberholtzer said. “My role as a leader is to set a tone within the human resources function and, by extension, influence the broader Health Center.”

Most recently, Mr. Oberholtzer completed 10 years of service with Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette, Wisconsin where he was the Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development, including ancillary support department responsibilities. His background includes leadership positions at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wis. and at Edward Hospital and Health Services in Naperville, Ill.

Mr. Oberholtzer earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Communication from Goshen College in Goshen, Ind. He earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the graduate school at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. He is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Mr. Oberholtzer and his wife, April, have two children, Aaron and Brittany.