Heartbeats Magazine
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Fall 2010 HeartbeatsMagazine Merle Family gives $1.6 Million to Island p. 19 Psychiatry practice at Island p. 6 Mammogram Controversy p. 7 Commissioner Message If you’re not progressing you’re falling behind by Chip Bogosian MD President, Island Hospital Board of Commissioners t Island Hospital we Acontinually ask ourselves: How do we get better? What can we do to improve not only patient care and the health of our community? We examine every aspect of our healthcare deliv- ery and facility, constantly finding ways to improve our services. An example was presented in the spring issue of Heartbeats (“Det Norske Veritas – DNV Healthcare” by Commissioner Paul Maughan) Portable unit (inset) housing the Positron Emission Tomography or PET which addressed the hospital’s newly selected scan unit is available at Island Hospital each Friday. accreditation organization. DNV was founded in 1864 to evaluate the technical condition of Norwegian merchant vessels. One of DNV’s past Advanced imaging capabilities at Island responsibilities was to examine 15,000 deepwater atients at Island Hospital now have or four procedures a week now, but this oil wells off the North American coast from 1980 Paccess to cutting-edge technology could eventually build to 50 or more a to 2006. There were 11 cases of deepwater crews that can detect minute changes in the week when the new Medical Arts Pavilion losing control of their wells and activating the body’s metabolism to better diagnose is completed in 2012. An area has already blowout preventer (that’s been mentioned fre- and treat disease. been designated for performing PET quently in the news about the Gulf of Mexico oil Positron Emission Tomography or PET scans and other imaging technologies in leak; successful activation of which may have scan is a type of nuclear medicine imag- the new Cancer Care Center.” he said. averted this recent disaster). In only six of those ing that tracks small amounts of injected There are advantages to superimpos- cases were the wells brought under control – a radioactive material or tracers. When ing or “fusing” CT images over PET scans failure rate of 45%. If a hospital had a failure rate detected in the body and analyzed by according to Dalseg. “The views pro- of 45%, the state would (and should!) close its specialized computers, these tracers can duced by this fusion allow the metabolic doors. provide detailed images of the structure information from the PET scan to be ana- I mention this to illustrate the dedication to and function of organs and tissue. lyzed in conjunction with the anatomical PET or PET/CT scans are used to detect excellence that we have at Island Hospital. DNV information of the CT scan” he said. “This cancer, to determine whether it has was the only hospital accrediting agency that had generates very precise information which spread within the body and to assess a process-improvement program built into its leads to a more accurate diagnosis and whether treatments or therapies have analysis and experience with a number of unrelat- pinpoint localization of disease.” been effective. They are valuable diag- ed fields. DNV’s vast experience in these other The procedure is performed on an nostic and treatment tools because they industries can be utilized to improve healthcare outpatient basis by first injecting a radio- can identify changes in the body at the delivery. active tracer into the blood stream. This is Our current focus is the 2010 hospital strategic cellular level. This allows physicians to no more painful than a blood draw. The planning retreat that includes Physicians, Nurses, detect diseases earlier than they have Technologist will then allow the material Administration and at-large community residents. been able to in the past. to accumulate in the areas of the body Their task is to look to the future in these rapidly “With other imaging techniques we being evaluated. Imaging takes place changing times and find an improved way to can only see the body’s anatomy,” says with the patient lying on a table while a deliver healthcare to our community. We have Rod Dalseg, Director of Diagnostic engaged Richard Keck, who has an extensive list Imaging at Island Hospital. “With a PET specialized camera detects the tracer and of accomplishments. He brings a long list of scan we can detect and assess metabo- delivers a detailed picture of both the accomplishments and was renowned for his lead- lism, including blood flow, oxygen use, structure and the function. The radioac- ership as Swedish Medical Center’s Vice President sugar utilization and more.” tive material decays very quickly and with for Business Development. He resides on Orcas PET scans are currently being per- the approval of their physician, patients Island, giving him a local as well as a global formed one day a week at the hospital, can resume normal activities directly after healthcare perspective. according to Dalseg. “We are doing three the procedure. I look forward to working with this select group as we work to meet the challenges faced by Island Hospital over the next decade. Heartbeats ❤2 FaLL 2010 Our Mission: We will deliver quality, compassionate and personalized healthcare to the communities we serve. Island Hospital (Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 2) is governed by a Board of Commissioners. By Vince Oliver, IH Chief Executive Officer Correspondence to commissioners can be sent to: CommIssIoners c/o Administration he final months of 2010 find Island Hospital three Heartbeats pages (4 - 6) dedicated to our 1211 24th St, Tcontinuing to make great strides to meet the Medical Staff. Most notably, Dr. Elina Durchman, anacortes, WA 98221-2590 medical needs of our community. We are expanding, Psychiatry, enables us to develop our Behavioral PosItIon 1 centralizing and improving services for our commu- Health Program at Island Hospital. Our community Jan Iversen nity. and region are not meeting the need for mental- PosItIon 2 Within the next 90 days Island will be breaking health services and this is a great step toward that C.W. “Buzz” Ely MD ground for our Medical Arts Pavilion between 25th goal. PosItIon 3 and 26th streets and just west of Commercial Ave. I sincerely hope the residents of our community Paul Maughan PhD This will allow us to expand our Cancer Care Center, take every preventive-health measure they have PosItIon 4 bring Island Hospital Physical Therapy & available. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Laurie M. Gere Rehabilitation back to campus and add Kidney Month and all of us at Island Hospital and our PosItIon 5 Dialysis and Wound Care services. On pages 12 and Cancer Care Center urge women to follow American A.J. “Chip” Bogosian MD 13 of this issue you can find a detailed site plan and Cancer Society guidelines for a baseline and regular- (President) other information about this exciting project. ly scheduled mammograms. This helps your physi- Heartbeats I deeply appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Elden “Bud” cian find any abnormality as early as possible, is published by the Community Relations/ Merle’s $1.6 million gift to Island Hospital. This enabling early-stage treatment – the best chance for education Department. great contribution will be put to use in our new survival. Comments or suggestions to: Cancer Care Center as well as to endow vital If you have any comments, concerns or questions (360) 299-1310 programs here at Island. You can read more about about our services, staff or facilities please contact this gift on page 19. me directly at (360) 299-1300, extension 2411 or vol- CommunIty ReLatIons/ EduCatIon DIreCtor With the challenges we continue to face recruit- [email protected]. Dennis Richards ing Physicians, it’s exciting to see so many exception- HeaLth ResourCes Coordinator al Physicians join us this year. I’m delighted to see aubre Adams CommunIty EduCatIon Coordinator Claire Zaugra Graphics/Design teresa L. Pierzchala WrIter LIFELINE®... Dee Oliver 24-hour support for medical emergencies, at the push of a button! Island FREE INSTALLATION • 1ST MONTH FREE! Hospital’s For units installed by December 31, 2010 Promise Your best healthcare experience begins at Island Hospital. Call us for more info: (360) 293-7563 We always place your emotional and medical needs first and foremost. Heartbeats ❤3 FaLL 2010 PEOPLE AT IsLAND Linda R. Brown MD elected IH Chief of Staff inda R. Brown MD, Ophthalmology, a Surgeon with Island Eye LPhysicians & Surgeons, has been elected Island Hospital Chief of From the Chief of Staff Staff for 2010-12. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from By Linda R. Brown MD Colorado College and a Doctor of Medicine Degree with honors from the Chief of Staff University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She completed an Internal Island Hospital Medicine Internship at St. Joseph Hospital, Denver, CO and a Residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado Hospital, Denver. believe Island Hospital is well Dr. Brown has operated a private Comprehensive Ophthalmology Irespected for consistently delivering practice on the Island Hospital campus since 1990 and has twice served as Chief of Surgery. high-quality healthcare through its excep- She is a an Associate of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American tionally qualified providers. Administration Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Board of Ophthalmology, the Washington is highly competent and has made the hos- Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons and the American Society of Cataract & Refractive pital a role model in the region and source Surgeons. of pride for our community. I am pleased Dr. Brown also is past President of the Skagit-Island County Medical Society and a dele- and proud to begin my two-year term as gate to the Washington State Medical Association.