Windber Medical Center News http://www.windbercare.org/news/index.cfm RSS feed for news, media and events for Windber Medical Center Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:50:28 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss website@windbercare.org website@windbercare.org 60 RSSeditor v0.9.54 (http://www.rss-info.com) Ron Corl honored by Windber Medical Center http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=66 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center paid tribute to veterans and a past board member, Ron Corl, who is also a veteran on Thursday night at the Windber American Legion. Rep. Mark Critz was the keynote speaker at the event, which also promoted the hospital's VeteranCare Service. Critz said he felt honored that he was invited to be the speaker.

]]> Windber Home Health Agency Named to 2011 HomeCare Elite http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=64 www.windbercare.org Windber Home Health Agency announced that it has been named to the 2011 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. The HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, process measure implementation, and financial performance.

]]> 'It has a special place in my heart': Physician assistant leaves military hospital and joins breast cancer fight http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=63 www.windbercare.org After working for 10 years at premier military hospitals in major metropolitan areas, Heather Johnston is embracing the different world she has found as a physician assistant at Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in Windber. "It's a nice feeling; kind of like a small-family feeling amongst everyone." The family atmosphere extends to Windber's regular patients, she added.

]]> Panera Bread Goes Pink For Breast Cancer Awareness Month http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=62 www.windbercare.org All during the month of October, an area restaurant chain is offering its customers in Johnstown and Altoona the chance to enjoy a special treat and help in the fight against breast cancer at the same time. Panera Bread brought back its pink ribbon bagels for the month of in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

]]> Windber Medical Center Announces New Environmental Services Manager http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=60 www.windbercare.org Rita J. Wilson was announced as the new Manager of Environmental Services at Windber Medical Center. She assumed the position on July 18th succeeding Aggie Strayer, who retired.

]]> Dorcas Quilters Donate Handmade Knotted Baby Blankets http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=59 www.windbercare.org The Dorcas Quilters of Good Sheppard Lutheran Church, Windber, donated a dozen handmade knotted baby blankets to Windber Medical Centers nursery.

]]> Windber Medical Center Main Laboratory Receives Accreditation from the College of American Pathologists http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=56 www.windbercare.org The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) awarded accreditation to Windber Medical Center Main Laboratory, Windber, Pennsylvania

]]> Windber OB/GYN Associates Welcomes William Walker, MD http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=57 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center welcomes William Walker, MD to Windber OB/GYN Associates.

]]> Windber Medical Center and Kim Marley, MD, celebrate their 500th Weight Loss Surgery http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=58 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center and Kim Marley, MD, Director of Bariatric Surgery, celebrated their 500th Weight Loss Surgery with a reception on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

]]> Windber Medical Center Announced As Top Hospital in Patient Experience by HealthGrades http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=50 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center is the recipient of the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for 2011. This distinctive award places WMC within the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for exemplary service to patients. Out of 3,797 hospitals in the country, only 8 hospitals within Pennsylvania were recognized for their service. Windber Medical Center is the only hospital in western Pennsylvannia to receive the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for 2011. "It is a tremendous honor to receive this award based on our patients perceptions. Exemplary care is a hallmark within our Planetree, patient-centered care hospital. I am very proud of the staff and physicians at Windber Medical Center for making this affirmation of excellence in patient-care possible," said Barbara Cliff, president and CEO.

]]> Area Doc Prescribes Traditional Therapy & Acupuncture http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=47 www.windbercare.org Some people prefer conventional western medicine when they have an illness or injury, while others gravitate toward alternative therapies with more of an eastern tradition. Fortunately, at an area hospital you can find one doctor who does both. Dr. Craig Fockler, D.O. ... focuses on the ear using the theory that certain parts of the ear represent certain parts of the body. Dr. Fockler explained, " you can stimulate certain parts in your ear to have again your brain or your nervous system address those parts of your body." Dr. Fockler said he's always been interested in a holistic approach to treatment. That's why he's a doctor of osteopathy and an acupuncturist. So then he became certified in acupuncture and he now calls it another tool in his toolbox. Dr Fockler says acupuncture can cure a lot of acute problems like back pain, but as an osteopath, if he doesn't think acupuncture will help a particular patient, he can steer him or her toward more traditional medical treatment.

]]> Girls Night Out: Hundreds gather to battle cancer http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=46 www.windbercare.org 754 women bought tickets to the fifth annual event, held Tuesday evening at the Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown. The event was founded in 2007 by the late Taunia Oechslin of Westmont as a way to pay it forward by helping women defeat breast cancer. Oechslin was battling breast cancer when she founded the event and helped many breast-cancer patients through her compassion for them. She died of the disease at the age of 36. The event has raised more than $135,000 in its first four years for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, Windber. Money raised this year also will benefit the center.

]]> Windber Medical Center honors 111 volunteers http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=485 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center gave back to its 111 volunteers last week at the annual Volunteer Recognition dinner, held at Rizzo's Restaurant in Windber. "The volunteers excel in touching lives and lifting spirits," said Barbara Cliff, president and CEO of Windber Medical Center. She said the hospital's youngest volunteer is 14 years old and the oldest is 89 years old. "Our volunteers have worked here from two weeks to as long as 34 years. Collectively the 111 volunteers donated 14,000 hours to Windber Medical Center's 55 departments," Cliff said. "The volunteers is what makes Windber different from other hospitals," added John T. Hollern, president of the Windber Board of Directors. Each of the volunteers was given gifts. Some of the volunteers who contributed more than 100 hours in 2010 received a president's service award.

]]> Local Marine Participates In Son's Birth Via Webcam http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=45 www.windbercare.org A local Marine stationed in Japan was able to be part of his son's birth thanks to a webcam and Skype. Greg Barron, of Rockwood, Somerset County, and Shyla Collins welcomed baby Gavin into the world Tuesday afternoon at Windber Hospital. While Barron said he wished he could be there, the webcam was next best thing.

]]> Area Hospital Promotes Nurturing Environment http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=44 www.windbercare.org ...One medical center in our region focuses on healing that begins with nurturing the body, mind and spirit. As you walk the halls of the medical center, you notice soothing artwork , much of it painted by a nurse who just enjoys creating it. Waiting rooms for families include a kitchen area where you can eat and use a computer to surf the web for fun or to research an illness. Patients can review own charts. Families can visit 24 hours a day. These features go along with the designation of Windber Medical Center as a Planetree Hospital. It's one of a group healthcare organizations that focus on creating patient-centered care in healing environments. The healing environment extends to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center on campus, where we ran into therapy dogs, that roam the grounds.

]]> Dianna Craig, MD, FACS and the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at WMC Recognized for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=43 www.windbercare.org Dianna Craig, MD, FACS recently received a Distinguished Achievement Award for excellence in APBI as a result of the addition of a significant advancement in breast brachytherapy to breast cancer treatment options at the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at Windber Medical Center. The SAVI applicator is a single-entry, multi-catheter device that allows precise delivery of radiation to the cavity while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. To qualify for this Distinguished Achievement Award, the entire clinical team at Windber Medical Center completed a comprehensive training and education program plus demonstrated expertise in offering this sophisticated technology to women with early stage breast cancer. In addition, a commitment was made to patient education, advocacy and awareness of advanced breast cancer treatments.

]]> Windber cardiac risk clinic opens http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=42 www.windbercare.org The clinic is a collaborative program of Windber Research Institute, Windber Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. It builds on the lessons learned during the three organizations' former participation in the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, said Amy Burke, clinical research manager for the Windber hospital. Unlike the Ornish program, the new clinic's diet is not strictly vegetarian. It is based on a Mediterranean diet, with limited portions of meat and fish permitted. In addition to diet, the program covers exercise, stress management and relaxation instruction. Participants have individual appointments with medical professionals for each modality, Burke explained.

]]> Hospital receives $500,000.00 from state - Windber Medical Center receives state grant for emergency room expansion http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=39 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center has been awarded a $500,000.00 grant from the state of Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), which will be used to support the expansion of its emergency room. According to Windber Medical Center's president, Barbara Cliff Ph.D., the expansion is needed to support the increased patient volumes that have been experienced by the emergency room. This will also allow us to better meet the needs of our local communities and the people we serve, said Dr. Cliff.

]]> Health care employees help send soldiers care packages http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=38 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center's Planetree, VeteranCare and the Helping Hands Committees have put together holiday care packages to send to military personnel who are stationed in Afghanistan. Kim Oleksa, the foundation's director, said the three large boxes included everything from personal care supplies to snacks that were donated by employees and people using the hospital. "We sent out a request to the employees via e-mail asking for donations," she said. "We also set up boxes throughout the hospital where people could donate items."

]]> American Heart Association recognizes Windber's work with heart-failure patients http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=37 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center was recognized Wednesday for improving the quality of life for its heart failure patients by meeting at least 85 percent of those core standard levels of care, said Steve Dentel, director of quality improvement initiatives for the American Heart Association. "The measures are evidence-based guidelines published through the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology," Dentel said, presenting the Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines bronze award for performance and achievement in heart failure treatment. "It is about patient outcomes and it's about patients going home with the medicines and information they need," Dentel told Windber's team. "The changes you made have affected your patients, but not only them  their families and your community."

]]> Windber hospital to focus on care for veterans http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=36 www.windbercare.org "We will officially begin to introduce VeteranCare, a new niche of WindberCare at Windber Medical Center," Windber Medical Center president and CEO Barbara Cliff said. "VeteranCare is being developed as a type of Planetree patient-centered care that responds to the unique needs of veterans within an acute care hospital." As the only Planetree patient-centered care hospital in Pennsylvania and one of only 12 Planetree designated hospitals in the world, Windber Medical Center is uniquely positioned to enhance the inpatient and outpatient care of veterans from a mind, body and spiritual perspective, Cliff said. As for those veterans who are currently cared for within the VA system, she said the hospital will continue to support that setting for their primary care. "Windber Medical Center is proud to be instituting VeteranCare within our Planetree patient-centered care environment. It is an honor to care for veterans and to extend thanks and appreciation to those who have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country," she said.

]]> Windber hospital salutes its veterans http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=35 www.windbercare.org It was just a lapel pin and round of applause, but Army veteran Sylvester Baran said Monday's VeteranCare reception was the most meaningful honor he has received for his service. "I thought that was one of the nicest programs anybody could have done," Baran, 77, said after the Windber Medical Center event Monday in WindberPlace conference center. Baran has been employed for 16 years as a courier for the medical center. He was among 36 hospital employees, physicians, volunteers and board members recognized Monday for their military service. The program introduced VeteranCare, the medical center's new focus on responding to the unique health care needs of military veterans, hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Cliff said during the program.

]]> Waving the flag: Air Force vet and cancer patient shows appreciation to local doctors, hospital staff http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=34 www.windbercare.org Gennifer Washington knows firsthand how important it is to have easy access to good medical care following a breast cancer diagnosis. Although Washington works in Bagram, Afghanistan, she was able to return home to be treated by Dr. Dianna Craig and the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in Windber. "It's traditional for service members and civilians to have a U.S. flag flown in the theater of operations (war zone) in honor of someone special,"Washington said. "Dr. Craig and her staff are very special to me. So as a token of my appreciation, I had one flown in a military Black Hawk above Bagram in their honor."

]]> A day for cancer survivors http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=33 www.windbercare.org They were all survivors in one way or another, some still fighting the battle against breast cancer, while others celebrating days, months and even years since its occurrence. Sunday, 420 women were invited to attend a Survivors Event held at the Joyce Murtha Breast Center in Windber.

]]> Patients share stories of healing http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=32 www.windbercare.org Joan Berkebile took tap-dancing lessons. Yvonne Mihalko focused on her needlepoint, Anita Vance wrote and edited scholarly articles and Jo Anne Doyka played in the dirt. But each of those women share common bonds: They were treated for cancer at Windber's Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, and they have used their talents - or, in some cases, discovered new ones - to endure a life-threatening, life-altering ordeal.

]]> Windber Medical Center to benefit from Panera Pink Ribbon Day http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=29 www.windbercare.org The Panera Bread stores in Johnstown and Altoona will be giving Windber Medical Center a boost by donating Pink Ribbon Bagel sales during their Go Pink campaign Oct. 5. One hundred percent of the proceeds from bagel sales will go to WMC. "We are just honored to be a part of it," said Patty Felton, Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center director.

]]> Windber Medical Center recognized by ASMBS for excellence in weight loss surgery http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=24 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center and Dr. Kim R. Marley recently announced that they have been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The ASMBS BSCOE designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. Marley is the Bariatric Medical Director at Windber Medical Center.

]]> Easing ER waits: Windber's $6.5M expansion set to begin next year http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=24 www.windbercare.org Construction of a new, $6.5 million emergency department is expected to begin next year at Windber Medical Center. Barbara Cliff, Windber Medical Center's president and chief executive officer, said hospital staff have been able to keep wait times relatively short for emergency visits. "We monitor that very closely," Cliff said, adding that the current emergency-room wait is posted on the home page of the hospital's Web site, www.windbercare.org.

]]> 10th annual HealthStyles Race to be held http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=23 www.windbercare.org The 10th annual HealthStyles Race will be held at Windber Medical Center, Somerset Avenue in Windber, beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 4. Along with the 5K Race and 1.5 Mile Fun Walk, planners added a 10K race to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the event. Registration is at HealthStyles or on line at www.windbercare.org.

]]> Laparoscopic surgery option for women facing hysterectomy http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=22 www.windbercare.org Laparoscopic surgery has benefitted many. Now, women facing hysterectomy - the removal of their uterus - may be able to have the surgery done laparoscopically. "Laparoscopic hysterectomy is an excellent choice," said Dr. Erin Hott, OB/GYN surgeon at Windber Medical Center.

]]> Book details struggles against cancer http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=21 www.windbercare.org A book designed to tell the stories of those who battled breast cancer and provide inspiration for those still battling the disease was released Thursday at the Windber Research Institute. More than 40 people joined survivors, their families and local dignitaries like Joyce Murtha for a book signing of Journeys: Inspirational Stories of Courage and Strength.

]]> The Leadership Journey of Patient-Centered Care http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=20 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center (WMC) is a 54-bed Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital in western Pennsylvania. We are the only Planetree hospital in Pennsylvania and one of only ten hospitals in the world to have achieved designation status, which can be viewed as the gold standard of patient-centered care. Guided by the core components of the Planetree philosophy, patient-centered care is not something we do, but rather something we are. The very culture of our acute care hospital embraces the concept that the patient is central to his or her own care, and the family is a component of that unit of care. Providing care the way we believe it should be provided extends to all who enter our doors. .

]]> Barbara Cliff Appointed Examiner for 2010 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=19 www.windbercare.org Barbara Cliff, president and CEO of Windber Medical Center located in Windber, PA, has been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2010 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

]]> Surgery improves odds of weight-loss success http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=17 www.windbercare.org Weight-loss surgery changed Tammy Miller's life. I am happy with myself, the Friedens woman said. I can buy clothes off the rack; I can cross my legs; I feel more normal. Laproscopic band surgery by Dr. Kim R. Marley at Windber Medical Center helped Miller lose 140 pounds since August 2008.

]]> Windber Medical Center receives donation http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=15 www.windbercare.org The Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out Committee presented Windber Medical Center's Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center with $53,000 it raised during its fourth annual event held April 27 at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown.

]]> Windber Medical Center recognized for high-quality care in weight loss surgery http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=13 www.windbercare.org Windber Medical Center and Dr. Kim R. Marley announced today that they have been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The ASMBS BSCOE designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. Dr. Marley is the Bariatric Medical Director at Windber Medical Center.

]]> Windber CEO's nursing roots anchor her in leadership role http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=14 www.windbercare.org Barbara Cliff, PhD, FACHE, president and CEO of Windber Medical Center, started her career in health care as a registered nurse over 30 years ago. During these years, she has spent more than five years at the COO or CEO levels and was in nursing leadership roles almost the entire time since becoming an RN. Cliff has always had a penchant for direct interaction with her patients, but always believed she could serve them better from the administrative level.

]]> Breast cancer benefit moves to bigger venue http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=10 www.windbercare.org The success of an annual evening of dinner, music and inspirational stories honoring breast cancer survivors has required a move to a larger venue this year.

]]> Windber Medical Center earns MRI re-accreditation http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=9 www.windbercare.org The MRI Department at Windber Medical Center has been awarded a three-year re-accreditation in whole body imaging as a result of a recent voluntary survey by the American College of Radiology.

]]> Congressman J Murtha http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=7 www.windbercare.org The Windber Medical Center family is greatly saddened by the passing of Congressman John P. Murtha. The Congressman was long a champion of our mission and a great supporter of ours as witnessed by his influence in the development and ongoing operations of the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Murtha and the entire Murtha family.

]]> WMC, local organizations pitch in for Haiti relief http://www.windbercare.org/newsitem.asp?newid=6 www.windbercare.org WINDBER, Pa. - Windber Medical Center officials announced today that approximately $10,000 has been collected since Jan. 14 for the Haitian earthquake relief efforts. The funds will be donated to Mission Discover, a Christian mission organization with deep ties to Haiti.

Windber Medical Center (WMC) served as the collection hub for the effort, and many of its employees and associates gave generously to the cause. Joining WMC in this venture were organizations such as the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, 1st Summit Bank, the law offices of Leventry, Haschak, & Rodkey, LLC, and the parishioners of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church of Windber.

"We're proud to be part of a community so willing to step forward and help our brothers and sisters in Haiti," said Barbara Cliff, president and CEO of Windber Medical Center. "We know Mission Discovery will be an excellent steward of this donation and will be certain that these funds make an impact."

UPJ officials collected donations at two recent events held at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center. 1st Summit Bank will be collecting donations at all their community branch offices until February 19. Employees of Leventry, Haschak, & Rodkey made a group donation. The parishioners of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church joined together to make a donation on behalf of the parish.

Additional donations will be accepted at Windber Medical Center until February 19. After that date, please visit the Web site of Mission Discovery (missiondiscovery.org) to learn how to help.

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