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Schneck Foundation to Host Program on Headaches
Migraines and other types of headache — such as tension headache and sinus headache — are painful and can rob you of quality of life. Headaches can plague anyone and can stop the strongest and bravest in their tracks. Despite the toll headaches still take on millions of people, enormous progress has been made in treating them. New medications, combined with non-drug therapies, are preventing, stopping, or managing some of the toughest headaches around.
Schneck Foundation’s Community Relations Committee is hosting Headaches: What a Pain! with featured speaker Dr. Aaron Compton, Schneck Pain Center. Dr. Compton is an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management. His personal approach to the treatment of pain is matched by his expert diagnosis and use of the very latest techniques. At the program, Dr. Compton will discuss some of the common causes of headaches, and provide information to help manage day-to-day pain.
Headaches: What a Pain! will be held on Tuesday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m. in the Schneck Auditorium at Schneck Medical Center, 411 West Tipton Street, Seymour.
To make your reservation for this FREE program, please call Betty Leslie, Schneck Foundation Development Coordinator, at 812-524-4247, or email bleslie@schneckmed.org. Please call early as Space is Limited.
Schneck Medical Center’s CEO Named One of Nation’s Top 100 Leaders of Hospitals
Gary A. Meyer, President/CEO of Schneck Medical Center, has been named one of the nation’s Top 100 Leaders of Hospitals by Becker’s Hospital Review. The CEOs were chosen based on the financial strength of their organizations and participation in leadership positions outside of work.
Schneck Medical Center was also recently named to Becker’s Hospital Review Top 100 Hospitals for its clinical accolades and innovation in care delivery.
Becker’s Hospital Review stated, “For hospital executives in an era of great uncertainty, learning from predecessors and previous experiences is what has made these following 100 leaders as successful as they are today. Their leadership continues to serve as a primer for the future.”
Meyer joined Schneck in 1975 for his administrative residency and has moved up through the ranks being promoted to Assistant Administrator of Professional Services, Executive Director of Community Services, Senior Vice President of Operations, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer when he was named President and CEO in 2001.
Under his leadership, Schneck has commenced a dynamic transformation highlighted by a $60 million dollar expansion and renovation project and numerous awards and accolades for quality medical care and leadership in patient-centered initiatives.
Meyer’s engagement as a healthcare leader extends beyond Schneck. He has been instrumental in the community by serving on the Boards of numerous organizations and a member and supporter of several community-based health and social service organizations.
Becker’s Hospital Review is a bimonthly publication featuring current business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems. To develop the list, nominations and research were independently conducted by the Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team.
Schneck Surgical Weight Loss Center Nurse Receives Esteemed Certification
Sherri Forgey, RN, CBN, has been named a Certified Bariatric Nurse by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
To be eligible to take the exam, nurses must successfully complete a written examination designed to assess the professional competencies in all technical areas of bariatric nursing standards as set by American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. A nurse must also have at least two years of bariatric nursing experience to be considered for the distinction.
“I’m proud of our bariatric program and the work that we do, and this certification shows our commitment to taking quality to an even higher level,” says Forgey.
Schneck is proud to have been named an American Society for Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence in the delivery of bariatric surgical care.
Surgical treatment of obesity may help not only control the diseases associated with obesity such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea—it may also help prevent the development of those diseases if they are not already present. Many patients report an improved quality of life, better moods, increased self esteem, and the ability to participate in more social activities.
“We are very proud of Sherri’s recognition,” says Cathy Hildebrand, coordinator of Schneck’s Surgical Weight Loss Center. “We are also grateful for her dedication and commitment to our patients to ensure they receive the very best care.”
To learn more about surgical weight loss at Schneck, call 812-523-5879.
Schneck Medical Center Honored at Prestigious Baldrige Award Ceremony
Schneck Medical Center was honored at the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Ceremony on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) presented the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to Gary A. Meyer, President/CEO. Also on stage to receive the award was Tammy Dye, Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Quality Officer.
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the nation’s highest presidential honor for quality and organizational performance excellence. The award, which is administered through the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, is designed to enhance the competitiveness and performance of U.S. businesses.
Schneck—the first organization in Indiana to win the Baldrige Award—was selected for the honor, along with Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri; Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan; and, Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska, from among a total of 69 organizations that applied for the 2011 award.
All of the applicants were evaluated rigorously by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and results. The evaluation process for the 2011 Baldrige Award recipients included about 1,000 hours of review and an on-site visit by teams of examiners to clarify questions and verify information in the applications.
“Our entire Schneck team can be proud of earning the Malcolm Baldrige Award,” said Meyer in his acceptance speech. “But this award is not the end to our journey. It is only a milestone. We continue our journey every day, with every patient we serve. And whether it be the Malcolm Baldrige Award or the simple smile of a patient we served, these accomplishments fuel our passion to keep on delivering the very best at Schneck. And we will.”
Schneck Medical Center Named One of Nation’s Top 100 Hospitals
Schneck Medical Center has been named one of the nation’s 100 Great Hospitals by Becker’s Hospital Review. The hospitals on the list demonstrated greatness through clinical accolades, innovation in care delivery, recent capital developments, and the offering of new services, specialty programs, or technology.
Becker’s Hospital Review stated, “Schneck Medical Center is a 100-bed, government-owned hospital in a small Indiana town, but it has proven its quality healthcare delivery over the past several years. Schneck is one of four 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipients, making it the first organization in Indiana to win the award. In addition, the Magnet-designated hospital received the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for three straight years.”
To develop this list, the Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations, conducted research and considered other reputable hospital ranking sources such as U.S. News & World Report, Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals, HealthGrades, Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipients.
Burgess of Schneck Medical Center Named IUPUC’s Outstanding Student in Nursing
Schneck Medical Center congratulates Melanie Burgess, RN, hospitalist coordinator, on being named the 2012 Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus Outstanding Student in Nursing. She was recognized at the university’s annual Honors Convocation on April 11.
Melanie received this honor for maintaining high academic standards and professionalism in IUPUC’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. She plans to complete the program this summer and to continue with her education in a Master’s program in nursing leadership or clinical nurse specialist.
Free Skin Cancer Screenings offered by Schneck Cancer Center
Seymour, Ind.—Schneck Cancer Center is once again sponsoring FREE Skin Cancer Screenings. The screenings will be held Wednesday, May 9th, 8 a.m. to noon, at Schneck’s Cancer Center on the medical center campus. You must have a scheduled appointment to participate in the free screening and time slots are limited.
More than half of all new cancers are skin cancers and more than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. In fact, 40 to 50 percent of Americans living to the age of 65 will develop skin cancer at least once in their lifetimes.
The screenings are by appointment only and will be conducted by Dr. Kevin M. Crawford, Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, LLC.
According to Dr. Crawford, “The key to the successful treatment of most types of skin cancer is early detection. Skin cancer is cured in 85 to 95 percent of all cases; however, if detected early enough the cure rate could be near 100 percent. This is especially critical in the most deadly type of skin cancer, melanoma. Early detection of melanoma can literally be the difference between life and death. It is essential patients perform regular self skin checks and have routine exams by their dermatologist or primary care physician.”
Schneck Medical Center invites the public to take advantage of these FREE screenings. These screenings are not intended for diagnosis of rashes or other skin problems and should not be a replacement or substitution for regular visits to a physician.
To schedule a skin cancer screening, call Schneck’s Cancer Center at 812-522-0477. Please leave your name and phone number and your call will be returned promptly. Again, screening times are limited so please call early.
Schneck Foundation to Host Program About Digestive Difficulties
Seymour, Ind.— Schneck Foundation’s Community Relations Committee is hosting All Right Now: Solving Digestive Disorders to discuss the hidden burden of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Covering everything from heartburn to celiac disease, the talk will provide answers for anyone who hopes to break free of their disruptive digestive condition and avoid the threat of colon cancer. A special focus will be on ways in which women are affected by GI disorders, as they are considerably more likely to suffer from digestive health problems than men.
“More than 70 million Americans are dealing with digestive disorders on a daily basis – but very few of us are talking about it seriously,” says featured speaker for the evening, Dr. Amanda Dick. “With upwards of 70% of the cells of our immune system in our gut, we need to make healthy digestion a priority for our overall health. Digestive dysfunction should be taken seriously. Treatments range from easy lifestyle modification and medicines to breakthrough technologies and same-day laparoscopic surgery to get you back to eating without fear and feeling great.”
The gastrointestinal tract is an amazing piece of machinery – were the small intestines to be smoothed out flat, they would cover an entire tennis court. But with so much square footage internally, there are more chances for things to go wrong. New treatments including new surgical options are now available for longtime sufferers of GI malfunction who can’t find relief in over-the-counter remedies. Robotic surgery may also permit people who might not be traditional candidates for open or minimally invasive surgery to undergo surgical repair, so if surgery was previously not an option, it may be now.
All Right Now: Solving Digestive Disorders will be held on Tuesday, May 8th at 6:00 p.m. in Suite 130 of the Jackson Medical Building, 225 South Pine Street, Seymour.
To make your reservation for this FREE program, please call Betty Leslie, Schneck Foundation Development Coordinator, at 812-524-4247, or email bleslie@schneckmed.org. Please call early as Space is Limited.
Schneck to hold Mercury Thermometer Exchange at Seymour’s Earth Day Celebration
Seymour, Ind.—On Saturday, April 21, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Seymour’s Earth Day Celebration, the Schneck Green Team will be hosting a Community Mercury Thermometer Exchange. The Earth Day Celebration will be held at Shields Park.
The first 150 individuals who bring their old mercury thermometers to the Schneck Green Team booth will receive a new digital thermometer, free of charge.
The exchange is being held in an effort to eliminate hazardous materials in your home and in community landfills, and to educate residents about the potential hazards posed by mercury found in thermometers and many other common household products such as thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, light switches, and button batteries. When these products are incinerated, land filled or broken, the mercury can pollute the environment. All of these products can—and should—be disposed of properly at household hazardous waste collections or by calling a licensed hazardous waste disposal company.
Exposure to mercury may cause a variety of health effects in people, children, and developing fetuses are particularly sensitive to its hazards. Depending on the level of exposure, mercury can cause damage to the nervous system, brain, kidneys, liver, and immune system.
“Mercury thermometers are a common source of mercury in municipal trash. With a thermometer exchange event, we can reduce the amount of mercury in the waste stream, and at the same time, educate consumers about the need to be conscious and careful about the products they buy and how they dispose of them,” said Andy Hagedorn, Director of Facilities at Schneck.
Schneck Foundation Invites Community to Solve their Shoulder, Hip, and Knee Pain
Seymour, Ind.—Schneck Foundation’s Community Relations Committee is hosting All Right Now: Solving Shoulder, Hip, and Knee Pain, an event to educate the community on the benefits of joint surgery. Problems affecting the major joints of the body like the shoulders, hips, and knees can cause persistent pain, interfere with daily living and restful sleep, and develop into more serious problems which can become difficult and complicated to treat. The community is invited to learn about how early, correct diagnosis and surgical treatment can be the answer to solving their painful problems.
“Surgery can be a ‘now’ solution for shoulder, hip and knee pain and can get you back on your feet fast – allowing for a more active, healthy life,” says featured speaker for the evening Dr. Kris Williams, Schneck Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. “There is still a belief that surgery is a last-resort option and reserved only for elderly people: this is simply not the case. Medical advances have helped surgery to be the answer for people of all ages who are needlessly suffering from a range of problems which surgery can repair quickly and easily. We are seeing less complications and faster recovery time than ever before – with many procedures performed in a same-day outpatient surgery setting. Surgery can have you back on your feet and feeling all right NOW!”
All Right Now: Solving Shoulder, Hip, and Knee Pain will be held on Tuesday, April 24th at 6:00 p.m. in the Schneck Auditorium, just inside the Visitor’s Entrance at Schneck Medical Center, Seymour. Light snacks will be provided.
To make your reservation for this FREE program, please call Betty Leslie, Schneck Foundation Development Coordinator, at 812-524-4247, or email bleslie@schneckmed.org. Please call early as Space is Limited.
