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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Saginaw, MI Permit No. 120 4005 Orchard Drive Midland, MI 48670 ourour REACHING RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE OF MICHIGAN M A Y / J U N E / J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 HEALTH RECOGNIZED FOR HELP WITH CARING Ann Fillmore, FOR OLDER ADULTS. director of Junior Achievement A new MIDLAND CLINICAL free booklet, Helping Older EXCELLENCE Adults Remain Independent and Healthy, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PATIENTS, AND MIDMICHIGAN EMPLOY- answers difficult ques- EES AND PHYSICIANS RECENTLY SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS tions such as “How can ABOUT QUALITY AT THE MEDICAL CENTER IN MIDLAND, I decide whether my relative can still live at INCLUDING THE RECENT DISTINGUISHED HOSPITAL AWARD home?” and “How can I FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE™ FROM HEALTHGRADES. Jim Bicknell, M.D., evaluate an older As a community leader, Ann Fillmore, director of Junior Achievement in emergency room adult’s driving ability?” Midland, knows that “this commitment to excellence starts at the top and physician You’ll find nutrition and filters down through the whole organization. The hospital plays an impor- exercise tips, a guide to prescription drug tant role in providing education for the community—so not only do they programs, and a list of provide exceptional inpatient and outpatient care, but they also improve local and national the quality of our lives through their community educational programs.” resources for seniors When Fillmore and her husband needed to find the best oncologist and and their caregivers. To the best treatment center, “We found them right here in our community, request a free copy, visit at MidMichigan.” www.midmichigan.org /independence or call When emergency room physician Jim Bicknell, M.D., was asked how Nancy Badour, MidMichigan Health MidMichigan achieves such excellence, he said, “For a hospital this size, food service Line toll-free at (800) the technology we have is amazing—everything from the most up-to- 999-3199. date equipment for CT [computerized tomography] scans to new surgical procedures like the Gamma Knife. That’s wonderful for a community this size. For so many disease processes and illnesses, you can travel hundreds SUMMER’S COMING: of miles and not get a better quality of care.” Dr. Bicknell says that “the glue KNOW THE SIGNS OF that holds it all together is the interaction, the communication and the atti- SKIN CANCER. tude” of the staff. “We work with each other to make sure the patients’ needs Skin cancer are met, and we convey the message…so the patient understands.” Pat Claussen, is the most A MidMichigan employee since 1979, Nancy Badour, food service, thinks orthopedic patient common type “it’s the little personal touches that make such a difference. MidMichigan of cancer, and We made the top 5 percent is constantly expanding and improving, but we aren’t losing the personal nearly all cases can be MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland recently received a 2005 linked to excessive sun touch. I think that’s what makes a hospital.” ™ exposure. Learn how to Having the opportunity in the hospital’s cafeteria to see patients’ fami- HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence , protect yourself with a lies, doctors and other employees, Badour feels that her role sometimes is making it one of only 15 hospitals in the state to receive this distinc- free Skin Safety in the to take the time to listen to them. “It just takes a couple of minutes out of tion. This places MidMichigan in Sun pullout card. It’s the top 5 percent in the nation packed with helpful my life, but I always feel like maybe it helps them a little bit.” facts about sunburn, “If I needed to go to a hospital again, this would be my first choice,” for overall clinical excellence. skin cancer, risk says Pat Claussen, an orthopedic patient at MidMichigan, “The care when factors, prevention and I was in the hospital was excellent.” Claussen had severe back pain and even a step-by-step self- had to have surgery. She has “tremendous respect” for her neurosurgeon, and it was just unbelievable how much better I felt.” Now she is walking exam guide. Request a free copy Brian Copeland, M.D., because she “recovered so quickly.” Claussen says, again, without pain. at www.midmichigan.org “I came back after 10 days or so to get the stitches out, and he was so For more information about clinical excellence awards, visit /skincancer or call surprised when I walked in with just a cane! I’d been in so much pain, www.midmichigan.org/quality. MidMichigan Health Line toll-free at (800) 999-3199. 2 ORTHOPEDICS KNEE-REPLACEMENT SURGERY 4 EDUCATION PATHS TO GOOD HEALTH 7 OLDER ADULTS SAFETY IMPROVES INDEPENDENCE WWW.MIDMICHIGAN.ORG INSIDE WELLNESS WITH A BRAND-NEW KNEE, SHE’LL GO THE DISTANCE oyce Fish has plans. The 78-year-old former practical saw before, as we went through this together, they felt like nurse from Mt. Pleasant has family in Phoenix and friends,” she says. New Orleans. She expects to visit them all, continue taking bus tours and return to playing the organ at UP AND AROUND AGAIN Four days after surgery, her church. when Fish went home, she was able to get out of the car But a few months ago, Fish’s outlook was not so and walk into the house with the aid of a walker. “I soon Jupbeat. Her painful knees were holding her back from liv- convinced my family that I was able to get in and out of ing the life she desired. She had fallen several times and bed,” she says. “They thought I would be in so much pain was concerned about breaking bones or damaging other that I wouldn’t want anybody around me, but the medica- Since her knee-replacement surgery, Joyce Fish joints. tion prescribed by my doctor relieved the pain enough for looks forward to playing the organ at church again. One night she needed help to walk two blocks from a me to move around.” tour bus to a concert hall. After that, she thought seriously At first, Fish needed help to get in and out of the shower new knee, I feel like I’ll be able to go whatever distance is about her future. and to do laundry. Eight weeks after surgery, she was walk- necessary.” “I wondered, ‘What does life have in store for me?’ I didn’t ing without assistance and driving her car. She hadn’t had To learn more about JointCamp at MidMichigan want to spend my time sitting in my house crocheting,” she any pain medication for a month. Medical Center–Midland or the nationally ranked says. “I made up my mind to see what could be done.” “It won’t be long before I can travel,” she says. “With my joint replacement services, call (989) 839-3798. Joyce consulted orthopedic surgeon Ben R. Mayne, M.D. “He told me my health and my age made me a good can- MidMichigan receives orthopedic care EXCELLENCE award didate for knee replacement,” she says. She was on her way to JointCamp. HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent health care quality company, has recognized MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland with a 2005 HealthGrades Excellence Award™. MidMichigan’s outstanding performance in ortho- CAMPERS FEEL LIKE FRIENDS MidMichigan’s pedics was also supported with five-star ratings for total hip replacement surgery, total knee replacement surgery JointCamp brings together joint replacement patients in and hip fracture repair. their own hospital unit. In a “well” atmosphere, JointCamp Orthopedic surgeons on the medical staff at MidMichigan include Kent R. Biddinger, M.D.; David T. Bortel, M.D.; offers faster recovery times, higher patient satisfaction, a John C. Eckhold Jr., M.D.; Mark J. Goethe, M.D.; Ben R. Mayne III, M.D.; Daniel L. Middleton, M.D.; John V. lower risk of infection and improved clinical outcomes. Murphy, D.O.; and Denise M. Stadelmaier, D.O. Fish’s daughter and daughter-in-law went with her to According to Dr. Goethe, chair of the department, “This HealthGrades study identifies the highest-quality orientation about a week before surgery. “They were afraid that I would need constant care after the surgery,” she re- orthopedic hospitals in the nation by analyzing federal Medicare patient data for common orthopedic procedures. calls. “The class relieved their concerns and enabled them MidMichigan ranked in the top 5 percent nationally for joint replacement surgery and the top 10 percent nation- to get things ready for me at home.” ally for orthopedic services.” After surgery, Fish had her first physical therapy ses- For more information about MidMichigan’s orthopedic program or for a referral to an orthopedic sur- sions in her room, then joined fellow campers for therapy geon, call MidMichigan Health Line at (989) 837-9090 in Midland or toll-free at (800) 999-3199, or and other activities. “Even though they were people I never visit www.midmichigan.org/ortho. first visit with Dr. Munkarah gave her butterflies. Upon arriving at Karmanos, she discovered that her SHE DANCES! worries were unfounded. “The entrance is beautiful—you THANKS TO MIDMICHIGAN/ can’t miss it,” Hoover says. “They have a nice garage for your car and a wonderful reception room. Things run so KARMANOS CANCER TEAM smoothly and easily. A coordinator talked with us for quite or Beaverton native Beulah Hoover, 71, life is rich a while to answer our questions. Then I got right in to see and full. Living on the same Ross Lake property the doctor.” where she was born and raised, she loves spending Dr.