THE SUMMER 2019 pulse INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FEATURED STORY: AN UNEXPECTED “BREAK” PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT: ONCOLOGIST DR. MCHAM COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: DON HARMS - SMALL TOWN CHAMPION ceoLETTER FROM THE Dear Friend, We are pleased to present the next issue As a hospital board member, Don’s of The Pulse Magazine, the community steady leadership in past years has publication of Syracuse Area Health. been instrumental in helping ensure the success of this facility. We are I wanted to highlight a few articles that grateful and glad to be able to give Growing with You particularly resonated with me. First him this small token of recognition. and foremost, I’m pleased we have decided to spotlight the talent we have Check out our fan favorite recipe for All the services you need, right here at Syracuse Area Health. Dr. Scott blueberry French toast, and finally, as here at Syracuse Area Health McHam explains his path to becoming summer comes to our state, we leave an oncologist and the passion behind his you with safety tips to keep you and your At Syracuse Area Health, we are with you along every step of life’s journey. From patient care. family happy and healthy this season. our family practice providers guiding your child’s first steps to specialty physicians who offer the same services and innovative procedures available at larger Please also take a look at the article about As always, we want you to be involved healthcare facilities, we continue to grow with you. It’s our ongoing commitment to provide you access to the level of care you deserve, without the need for travel. our staff member, Julie Werner, who had and truly recognize that SAH is not an unexpected fall while on vacation a community hospital, but your Visit syracuseareahealth.com to learn more or in Mexico. What began as a harrowing community hospital. Please don’t call 402-269-2011 to schedule an appointment. experience turned into a celebration of hesitate to reach out with feature ideas the services and community Syracuse or feedback on the magazine. It’s as Area Health offers. much your publication as it is ours. This issue spotlights community member Sincerely yours, Don Harms, a man long overdue for Michael Harvey recognition here at Syracuse Area Health. CEO Services Include: • Orthopedics and • Primary Care Sports Medicine • Preventative Screenings • Women’s Health • Oncology 2 | THE PULSE • Rehabilitation • Specialty Services provider spotlight Dr. Scott A. McHam Now it’s Dr. McHam’s own patients doctors are smarter—and Dr. McHam who inspire him. Dr. McHam comes is continuing to learn the newest to Syracuse Area Health triple-board and best treatments for his patients. “I love being at certified by the American Board of He recently attended a medical Internal Medicine (he’s certified in conference at Harvard University Syracuse Area internal medicine, medical oncology, where there was plenty of exciting and Health because and hematology). He is a member promising news about fighting cancer. of the American College of Clinical of the patients.” Growing with You Oncology and the American Society “A lot of data on immunotherapy of Hematology. He completed an was presented at the conference,” internal medicine residency and he says. “Immunotherapy activates he says it’s the same thing that helps a three-year hematology/medical the patient’s own immune system him be a good doctor: “I have found As a college student, oncology fellowship at the Cleveland to fight cancer, and it is changing that healthy communication is a large Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. the landscape in oncology. We have part of what makes our relationship Scott McHam watched as his been seeing amazing results with this! work. I take a similar ‘team approach’ grandfather battled cancer. “I love being at Syracuse Area Health There are more patients in remission when I’m working with my patients. A few years later, when he because of the patients,” he says. with hope of cure.” It begins with honest conversation. was in medical school, “One of them brings me homegrown Each person has individual goals becoming an oncologist tomatoes from his garden. The small As passionate as Dr. McHam is about and desires for their care. I try to was the obvious choice. town feel of it here makes it a friendly cancer treatment, he does his best to understand those personal aspects and inviting place to work. I grew up spend as much time as possible with and then tailor a plan that fits that “I was learning from an oncologist in a small town myself, so I appreciate his family. person’s individual needs.” who had a great relationship with the care this community has for his patients,” says Dr. McHam. “I each other.” “I feel the most relaxed when I am out Relationships are the foundation of loved seeing that relationship. The in nature. Some of my best memories care for Dr. McHam, and Syracuse patients inspired me every day. The A love for small town life doesn’t, are teaching my children to hunt and Area Health is proud that he is here situations were often difficult and however, prevent Dr. McHam from fish. I wish I could do more of that,” he fighting cancer and establishing complex, but there was hope and exploring big ideas. Cancer is a smart says. On the secret to his successful healthy, successful relationships with encouragement.” disease, but fortunately, cancer 27-years-and-counting marriage, patients in our community. SYRACUSEAREAHEALTH.COM | 3 An Unexpected “Break” SAH EMPLOYEE FINDS OUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO NEED CARE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY Work was the farthest thing from healthcare scam attempt. As it happens, there Julie Werner’s mind when she was were several other very competent facilities on vacation with her husband and friends, nearby that we were not offered.” hundreds of miles away in Cancun, Mexico. It was a long and scary story, says Julie, but BACK HOME AT SYRACUSE fortunately she was able to be cared for—even Julie’s fracture was displaced, so she ended Julie’s role at SAH is Utilization Review & Discharge long distance—by her friends and coworkers at up needing surgery upon her return home. Planning in the Nursing Administration Department. Syracuse Area Health. She was enjoying the break from everyday life. “I believe I’m probably a very impatient patient,” After connecting with Dr. Tempelmeyer, Julie laughs. “I’ve received care at Syracuse Until she had another kind of break. “We were staying Dr. Steckelberg and their nursing teams, the Area Health many times before and am so at a wonderful resort and I sustained a fall,” she says. “I wheels were set in motion. “Our orthopaedic grateful they put up with me!” fractured my left wrist in several places.” surgeon, Dr. Strasburger, actually called me in Mexico from Syracuse Area Health to have me Joking aside, Julie is grateful for the care she Getting medical care was nothing short of an ordeal send him my x-ray films. He, along with the SAH received at home at SAH. “I trust and know for Julie. “We did not have a favorable experience family practice providers, gave me direction for firsthand, from being on both sides of care, in Mexico,” she says, “but that was because—as my care. It was a great relief to have our team that our staff performs in the best interest we found out later—that we were subjected to a looking out for me,” she says. of every patient,” she says. 34 | ONTHE THE PULSE HORIZON community spotlight Don Harms - Small Town Champion Having helped many banks in his When asked why he felt compelled the Auxiliary Thrift Shop, unloading career, Don saw a need and became to help the hospital grow and merchandise and carrying things part of the Syracuse Area Health thrive, Don says, “I think everyone from storage to the sales floor. board. It was a time of potential needs to have a place to go rather upheaval for SAH, and the board was than having to take an ambulance tasked with deciding whether to keep or car 40 miles before they can or sell the old clinic. get treated in emergencies. I think it’s very, very important for “If I had to describe myself, I’d people in the area to have a quality say I bring a calming effect when healthcare facility close to them.” there’s a crisis, keeping emotions out of it,” says Don. Ultimately, the Don values community so much board decided to keep the clinic perhaps because growing up, Don Harms is good in a crisis. and open the Auxiliary Thrift Shop. he didn’t have one. He grew up Although he may not put it The thrift store has since raised on a farm outside of Glendale, that way himself, Don has a almost $800,000 for the hospital, Nebraska, going to school in a reputation for calm, clear- providing the funds for new one-room schoolhouse. His equipment and technology. brother took on the farm partly Don and his wife Sharon will have been eyed leadership. For years because Don knew farming married for 57 years this year. They he was what he calls a “fixer” SAH CEO Michael Harvey says what wasn’t where his strengths were. have children—two daughters who live of banks, going in to small Don himself won’t: “I really believe in the community, plus grandchildren, town banks, righting the ship, that it was Don’s leadership that “My brother could fix anything, and one great grandchild.