Press Releases

Input from Logan County Needed for Community Survey

The voices of Logan County residents are needed to help guide future planning for our community. During the week of January 23rd, a paper survey will be mailed to over 10,800 households in Logan County. Mary Rutan Hospital, in conjunction with the Logan County Health District, Logan County Children and Family First Council, Urbana University and eighteen other area agencies, organizations and businesses have come together to facilitate this 100% anonymous survey.

Area residents are encouraged to take the 10 to 15 minutes required to complete the survey and to voice concerns, strengths, risks and needs for themselves, their family and their community. The survey focuses on several areas: community issues, environment, safety, healthcare, wellness, quality of life, parenting, social and demographics and is categorized so that needs and those most at risk can be identified by region/area of Logan County.

Once returned by the February 3, 2012 deadline, each individual survey will be scanned and data will be compiled by Urbana University faculty and students. The data will then be used in a collaborative project to understand the crucial needs and issues of Logan County. The information gathered will then be used to prioritize those needs for which there is a reasonable opportunity to have a positive effect, and to develop and implement action plans to improve the health, wellness, safety, environment, and well-being of the community. The data will also be compared to state and national data and will be used to develop action plans for improvement both community-wide and agency-specific. It will also be used to assist area agencies and organizations in seeking funding to address issues identified by the survey and to measure outcomes which impact the community. The survey results, findings and action plans will be shared with the community once the results and plans have been finalized.

“Individuals are encouraged to take the time to complete and return the survey in the enclosed postage paid envelope. It is a vital tool to assist community leaders in assessing and addressing community needs and will aid in determining the population which is most at risk or in need of various services,” says Tammy Allison, COO of Mary Rutan Foundation.

Previously, various agencies and organizations facilitated their own surveys through a variety of methods. Low community participation and the high cost of the survey process were a challenge and a disappointment for area agencies. In planning for the Community Needs Assessment, Mary Rutan Hospital approached Logan County Children and Family First Council members, the Logan County Health District and numerous other community organizations, agencies and businesses requesting that they come together to do one survey for future planning efforts. “We want to be good stewards of our money and have the most accurate results and a true picture of the needs of our community, but this cannot be done without successful community participation. That is why it is vital that each community member who receives a survey for their household takes the time to complete and return it,” says Allison.

The estimated cost of the survey is $20,000. Primary funding for the project is provided by Mary Rutan Foundation, the United Way of Logan County and an in-kind donation from Urbana University for the preparation of survey data comparisons and analysis. Several other organizations have committed some financial investment as well. Additional dollars are also available through a Health Center Planning Grant, awarded to Mary Rutan Hospital by the Federal Government’s Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA).

Questions regarding the survey may be directed to Tammy Allison at (937)599-7003 or via email at Tammy.Allison@maryrutan.org.

Note: The following agencies and organizations were instrumental in the creation, implementation and funding of this survey.

Logan County Children & Family First Council

Logan County Health District

Mary Rutan Foundation

Mary Rutan Hospital

United Way of Logan County

Urbana University

The Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board for Logan & Champaign Counties

The Ohio State University Extension

Logan MHA

Logan County Children Services

Logan County Commissioners

Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Bellefontaine City Schools

Bellefontaine Police Department

Council on Rural Services

Indian Lake Local Schools

Logan County Educational Service Center

Logan County Family Court

Logan County Job & Family Services

Logan County Sheriff’s Office

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center

Riverside Local Schools

Tri-County Community Action

Contact: Tammy Allison
Mary Rutan Hospital
Community Relations
(937) 599-7003

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Mary Rutan Hospital Partners with OSU Medical Center to Offer Advanced Stroke Care

Bellefontaine, Ohio, December 2, 2011 – Logan County area residents facing a potential or actual acute stroke will now benefit from a recently formed partnership between The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC) and Mary Rutan Hospital (MRH), bolstering Mary Rutan Hospital’s stroke services through 24/7, around the clock access to The Ohio State University Medical Center’s nationally ranked stroke experts via real-time, telemedicine-based technology.

This Telestroke partnership provides a link between the emergency room team at MRH and the comprehensive team of stroke specialists at OSUMC. With the help of a secure, video-conferencing network, members of OSUMC Neurovascular Stroke Center are able to quickly perform ‘virtual’ bedside neurological evaluations that allow them to examine patients, review brain images, and quickly select the best acute stroke treatments in collaborations with the MRH ER physicians.

“Time is critical in an acute stroke situation and having real-time 24/7 access to the OSUMC neurological team ensures that we are able to provide advanced stroke care to the residents of Logan County. This is a very exciting project that has the potential for a very positive impact on the outcome of stroke patients in our area,” said Dr. Grant Varian, Medical Director at Mary Rutan Hospital.

When a suspected stroke patient arrives at Mary Rutan Hospital’s Emergency Department, a “stroke alert” is activated at both Ohio State and Mary Rutan Hospital, which mobilizes a team of stroke experts who, through the use of telemetry and real-time testing and patient interview, can help the care team at Mary Rutan Hospital determine the best treatment option for the patient.

“By collaborating with Mary Rutan Hospital, we come together to offer the best system of care to a stroke patient,” says Dr. Eric Sauvangeau, Surgical Director of OSU Medical Center’s, Neurovascular Stroke Center. “Cooperation among the hospitals allows stroke patients to be treated beyond the regular timeframe using advanced tools to dissolve or remove clots that cause stroke and reverse the symptoms.”

Stroke is the third largest cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. According to the American Stroke Association, about 700,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds and about every three minutes someone dies of stroke.

“One of the things we can’t treat is denial. If people sit at home and stoically wait out a stroke, that doesn’t work. Calling 911 is so very important because we can have all the technology in the world, but if people are sitting in their homes and not getting to the hospital, it doesn’t help them,” said Dr. Varian.

Stroke warning signs include:

· Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

· Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

· Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

· Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

· Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Mary Rutan Hospital continues to invest in the health and well-being of our community. In addition to the new Telestroke program, MRH has begun remodeling all inpatient rooms and converting them to single patient rooms, is finalizing the installation of a new state-of-the-art MRI unit, and has a 160 slice CT unit on order that will arrive in early 2012.

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Contact:

Laura Miller, VP Marketing & Communications

Mary Rutan Hospital

937-599-7036

lmiller@maryrutan.org

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MARY RUTAN HOSPITAL INVESTS 1.5 MILLION IN NEW MRI MACHINE

Bellefontaine, November 17, 2011 -- Mary Rutan Hospital (MRH) has purchased the latest and most sophisticated fixed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit available when it upgraded to the Vantage Titan MRI from Toshiba. The new MRI also features the largest available clinical field-of-view, allowing physicians to see exceptional images and provides the patient comfort while in the scanner.

The hospital’s MRI unit is the largest open-bore MRI in the area, according to Deb Boyle, MRH’s Director of Radiology. “With the addition of this new Toshiba MRI, Mary Rutan Hospital now has the largest opening, and highest quality, of any MRI unit in the area, fixed or mobile,” added Boyle.

“The Vantage Titan system offers a significant increase in signal to noise ratio which results in better images” said Hassan Semaan, M.D., Mary Rutan Hospital’s Neurological and Interventional Radiologist. “The large field of view is unique for this bore size and produces high-quality images without compromising overall image performance. In addition, the unit offers more room for patients and decreased noise creating a better experience for the patient.”

Because of the wide opening, this new Vantage Titan unit is perfect for claustrophobic patients, especially since 70% of all procedures can be performed feet first, meaning the patient’s head can be kept outside the bore. The new unit will allow additional procedures to be conducted in town, so patients will no longer have to be referred outside of the community for some of the more specialized studies. Now breast MRIs, expanded angiography, additional gallbladder and pancreatic studies, and enhanced orthopedic exams can all be expertly conducted with the new unit.

According to Deb Boyle, perhaps the most significant advancement with this MRI unit is Toshiba’s Jet technology. “Using sophisticated state of the art computer algorithms, Jet allows for improvement in image quality with motion compensation. Often, small movements by patients during an MRI test are unavoidable. With our previous unit, if there was significant patient motion, the image was often non-diagnostic (useless). Now, we can adjust not only for the unavoidable small movements, but often even for large movements. We worked hand-in hand with Toshiba during installation and setup and the end result are images that are simply stunning.”

The total cost for the installation, remodeling and new unit, exceeds $1.5 million, said Laura Miller, Vice President of Marketing for Mary Rutan Hospital, but Miller said the hospital will not increase exam charges for use of the new MRI machine. Miller added, the purchase of the new unit has been in the works for more than 2 years and replaces a unit that has served them well for the past 10 years. “We believe there will be a good return on this investment in better quality, enhanced studies, faster scans and the increased ability to serve more community members close to home.”

The new unit also has Toshiba’s patented Pianissimo technology, which dramatically reduces acoustic noise, the most significant cause of patient discomfort during an MRI exam, according to studies.

Other advantages to the new MRI unit:

Table flexibility: Serves patients with a table that lowers to less than 17 inches off the floor, offering greater access for pediatric and geriatric patients.
Arm rests: Conveniently located on both sides of the table, improving patient comfort.
Quicker processing: SPEEDER parallel processing supports faster scanning techniques with high-quality images.
Atlas Integrated Coil Technology: Integrated coils increase the speed of the imaging process during multiple exam requests.
Non-contrast MRA exams: Vantage Titan offers a safer alternative for performing rapid, high resolution MRA’s (magnetic resonance angiograms) without using contrast agents. This helps to shorten exam time and increase patient comfort and safety. MRA’s provide pictures of blood vessels inside the body.
Open view exams: The design of the machine allows patients’ views to remain unobstructed during an exam, which significantly reduces the feeling of claustrophobia.

For additional information on Mary Rutan Hospital’s new MRI unit, contact The Ewing H. Crawfis Imaging Center at 937-592-1883.

Contact:

Laura Miller, VP Marketing & Communications

Mary Rutan Hospital

937-599-7036

lmiller@maryrutan.org

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Mary Rutan Foundation Awards Over $50,000 in Medical Scholarship and Loans to Area Students

As students head back to college, Mary Rutan Foundation provides assistance to area students pursuing a degree in the medical field. A total of $50,651 was awarded to twenty-six recipients including twenty-three students earning degrees in nursing and allied medical fields, as well as three medical school students.

Mary Rutan Foundation has had a strong commitment to its Medical Scholarship and Loan Program, awarding over $1.1 Million in medical scholarships and loans since 1992. “Our medical scholarship and loan program is an investment in the future of health care for our community and for the residents of Logan County, says Tammy Allison, Foundation Chief Operating Officer. “Many of the students we assist come back and work in the healthcare field right here in our community”, says Allison.

This year’s recipients include:

Beach Medical Education Fund

Courtney Eichholtz Bachelors Degree Health Management

Charlotte L. and Norman R. Miller Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund

Heather Core Associates Degree Registered Nurse

Jewell Guthrie Licensed Practical Nurse & Associates Degree Registered Nurse

Leanne Reichert Bachelors Degree Registered Nurse

Melissa Bell Bachelors Degree Biomedical Engineering

Logan Conley Doctorate of Pharmacy

Zelma Nina Hertenstein Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund

Amanda Kavanagh Bachelors Degree Registered Nurse

James F. Milroy Fund

Katy Kite Bachelors Degree Radiography

Ewing H. Crawfis Memorial Employee Scholarship Fund

Sandra Cerwinsky Bachelors Degree Healthcare Administration

Dr. Joseph C. & Florence C. Longfellow Memorial Scholarship Fund

Ashley Caudill Associates Degree Registered Nurse

Brooke Stump Bachelors Degree Registered Nurse

Ashley Burmaster Masters Degree Speech Pathology

Chelsi Fielder Associates Degree Respiratory Therapy

Sarah Schindewolf Bachelors Degree Clinical Lab Science

Rob Stahler Doctorate of Pharmacy

Lee Yoder Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Grace K. Orr/Dr. Edwin Pratt Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund

Kelsey Kauffman Doctorate of Pharmacy

Lauren Reichert Doctorate of Pharmacy

Marjorie Rothhar Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund

Terra Haisley Associates Degree Occupational Therapy Assistant

Rita Riedmiller Memorial Scholarship Fund

Stacey Bohannon Associates Degree Registered Nurse

Amanda Kavanagh Bachelors Degree Registered Nurse

Sandra Cerwinsky Bachelors Degree Healthcare Administration

Walter and Janet Sack Medical Memorial Fund

Jenna Fay Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Mary Rutan Foundation General Scholarship Fund

Stacey Bohannon Associates Degree Registered Nurse

Lane Yoder Bachelors Degree Registered Nurse

Logan Conley Doctorate of Pharmacy

Courtney Eichholtz Bachelors Degree Health Management

Jenna Fay Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Terra Haisley Associates Degree Occupational Therapy Assistant

Ryan Hemmert Doctorate of Pharmacy

Katie Kite Bachelors Degree Radiography

Lee Yoder Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Mary Rutan Foundation Medical Student Loan Fund

Joshua G. Arehart Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Britta Buchenroth Medical Doctor

Christopher Stalling Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

These scholarships are made possible through Mary Rutan Foundation’s General Scholarship fund as well as the generous support of memorial donations, bequeaths and individual contributions to Mary Rutan Foundation. For further information about the scholarship program or how you may make a financial contribution, please contact Mary Rutan Foundation at (937) 599-7003.

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Mary Rutan Foundation Receives $10,000

Champions for Healthy Kids Grant

Bellefontaine, Ohio (May, 23, 2011) -- The Mary Rutan Foundation has been awarded a $10,000 grant to assist in the continuation and expansion of their Power-Up 4 Fitness program.

The grant was received through the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Program, in partnership with the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President’s Challenge. The Mary Rutan Foundation was one of 50 recipients from over 1,100 organizations and schools across the United States to receive this financial support.

Power up 4 Fitness is a unique program that was initiated two years ago. It was created through a total community effort and designed specifically for the needs of families in Logan County. Through discussion with area school representatives, which focused on the increase in numbers of obese and inactive students, it was believed that Power-Up 4 Fitness was exactly the right program to target the 4^th grade students in Logan County. Last year alone, nearly 900 students participated in some form or another.

Power-Up 4 Fitness kicks off with a two hour health fair for all 4^th grade students. Area schools that participate include Bellefontaine, Ben Logan, Indian Lake, Riverside, West Liberty, Jackson Center, Ridegemont, Calvary Christian and home schooled students. The health fair is followed by evening sessions at the Hilliker YMCA for students and their parents or guardians. Parents and children come together for several sessions of education, fun, and fitness activities.

The program is truly a community effort with involvement from the Hilliker YMCA, Logan View Pediatrics, Mary Rutan Hospital, Honda Wellness Team and all area school districts. This grant award will allow continued efforts and the opportunity to broaden the program, through increased communications and activities after the initial sessions have ended.

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Imaging Center Named “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence”

Bellefontaine, OH -- The Ewing H. Crawfis Imaging Center has been named a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence” by the American College of Radiology’s Commission on Quality and Safety and the Commission on Breast Imaging, making it one of only seven such organizations in the Central Ohio area to receive this designation. After extensive review by the ACR, the center’s consistent high quality performance for mammography, breast ultrasound and stereotactic breast biopsy officially earned the elite accreditation.

The accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded to a select few facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards. Image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed.

“Our commitment to breast health excellence is demonstrated by the recent accreditation of all of the related specialty areas by the American College of Radiology,” explains Dr. Darlene Weyer, radiologist with Mary Rutan Hospital. “Proper diagnosis and effective treatment of a breast abnormality begins with accurate imaging. Ensuring each mode of detection – mammography, ultrasound and biopsy – meet the standards of excellence set forth nationwide; our patients and physicians can be confident in the delivery of safe, accurate and effective care,” said Dr. Weyer.

A Center of Excellence designation by the ACR signifies that the breast imaging program at the Ewing H. Crawfis Imaging Center has not only met mandatory accreditation requirements but has also voluntarily participated in a rigorous review process to ensure it has exceeded nationally set patient-care standards.

“For patients, the designation provides a quick way to identify the best mammography and breast imaging centers available”, said Dr. Weyer. It means patients in Logan County and the surrounding areas have access to the highest quality of diagnostic care. It means they can rely on us to utilize state-of-the-art equipment and the best people to help them through the process of getting the most accurate results possible,” Dr. Weyer said.

For more information about the Ewing H. Crawfis Imaging Center or to make an appointment, please call 937- 592-1883.

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Now Providing Digital Mammography

Bellefontaine, Ohio – On the heels of being recognized in the top 10% of hospitals nationwide, Mary Rutan Hospital and the Ewing H. Crawfis Imaging Center are pleased to announce the latest in full-field digital mammography. The new digital unit provides revolutionary digital imaging technology and does it with 30% less radiation than any other digital unit within a 60-mile radius of Bellefontaine.

“Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life, making the need for advanced screening technology so vital,” said Dr. Darlene Weyer, radiologist with Mary Rutan Hospital. “The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97%.”

Weyer says digital mammography is similar to standard mammography, in that X-rays are used to produce detailed images of the breast. She says the conversion to digital mammography allows the image to be viewed on a computer screen in seconds by the technologist and within minutes by the radiologist. The digital image can be manipulated to enhance the image after the exam is complete. The magnification, orientation, brightness and contrast of the image may be altered after the exam is completed to help the radiologist see certain areas of the breast more clearly.

“Digital mammography not only provides a clearer detail of the breast image in real time, for the patient who might have had an abnormal mammography in the past, it means peace of mind,” said Dr. Weyer. “I am able to enhance virtually any part of the breast image for a more in-depth study. This advanced image quality translates to higher patient satisfaction and better outcomes.”

Digital mammograms have been shown to be more accurate, particularly for women who are younger than 50, have dense breast and are premenopausal. In many cases, digital mammograms are able to pinpoint more serious cancers earlier, meaning treatment can begin sooner.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends annual mammograms for women beginning at age 40, with the exception being those who have a family history, which then a baseline is recommended at age 35. For women in their 20’s and 30’s, a clinical breast exam is suggested as part of a regular health exam as well as monthly self breast examinations.

Mary Rutan Hospital is committed to the fight against breast cancer. In offering digital mammography, MRH provides the latest in imaging quality. If you would like to schedule a mammogram or have questions about this important breast health procedure, please call EHC Imaging Center (937) 592-1883.

Mary Rutan Hospital Honored Among Nation’s Top Hospitals

Bellefontaine, Ohio (February 22, 2010) – Mary Rutan Hospital has been recognized with a 2009-2010 Hospital Value Index: Best in Value Award, as a result of a nationwide study conducted by Data Advantage, LLC, the nation’s leader in measuring healthcare value. Mary Rutan Hospital ranked among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide, achieving top marks in quality of care, patient satisfaction, affordability and efficiency.

“We are very proud of this prestigious honor, as it reinforces our commitment to providing quality care affordably,“ said Mandy Goble, CEO of Mary Rutan Hospital. “To be ranked in the top 10% of 4,500 nationally, is a testament to the dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff who strive each day to make our hospital a leader in quality care.”

The Hospital Value Index is the first and only performance indicator to focus on the value hospitals provide to their community and utilizes the latest publicly available data to recognize these accomplishments.

This award pulled data from approximately 4,500 general acute-care hospitals, serving approximately 30.1 million consumers and defines Mary Rutan Hospital’s success in five critical areas:

· Quality of Care, including Medicare Services Core Measures, patient safety and readmission rates;

· Patient Satisfaction, as measured by Medicare Services survey and a comprehensive reputation of a hospital as measured by local perception derived from the National Research Corporation’s Healthcare Market Guide;

· Affordability, a comparison of prices charged for inpatient and outpatient services;

· Efficiency, including the relative measure of the cost to the hospital for providing services.

“This award truly acknowledges Mary Rutan Hospital’s success in staying on the leading edge of transparency and consumerism shifts in healthcare and includes important information for those who seek the highest quality of care. This is a great achievement for our organization and for the members of our community, who have and continue to support the mission of Mary Rutan Hospital,” said Goble.

The full Hospital Value Index study and list of findings for hospitals nationwide can be found at www.hospitalvalueindex.com.

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