Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Platteville, WI Permit No. 7 4005 Orchard Drive Midland, MI 48670 ourourREACHING RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE OF MICHIGAN ● MAY/JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2 0 0 7 Getting emergency treatment quickly and taking good care of their MidMichigan hearts has enabled these cardiac survivors to return to the activities makes 100 Top they love. From left: Bud Carpenter, John Dunford, ® Paula Koontz, Jim Judge and Carol Formsma. Hospitals list idMichigan Medical Center–Midland is setting new national standards for clinical out- comes, patient safety, fi nancial performance, effi ciency and growth in patient volume. The Medical Center has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Solucient®, part Mof Thomson Healthcare, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. Gratiot Medical Center in Alma, an affi liate of MidMichigan Cardiac ‘Survivors’ Health, also was named on the list. The Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for NOT UNLIKE THE CASTAWAYS ON THE HIT Alma and Midland. It also offers specialized cardiac reha- Success study annually examines changing performance levels REALITY TELEVISION SERIES SURVIVOR, PEOPLE bilitation in fi ve convenient locations, in-home care and in U.S. hospitals and objectively identifi es 100 benchmark RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF MICHIGAN recovery care through MidMichigan Visiting Nurse Associa- hospitals based on overall performance. The study uses a bal- are battling to stay in the game longer. However, the stakes tion, community education and a wide range of treatment anced scorecard approach and scores hospitals based on a set are higher in the game of life they’re playing. options, including pacemaker implantation. of measures that refl ect highly effective performance across the You likely haven’t seen Carol Formsma, Bud Carpenter, In 2005 MidMichigan began providing emergency whole organization, including board members, medical staff, John Dunford, Jim Judge or Paula Koontz sporting angioplasty, a lifesaving procedure for many heart attack management and employees. These include patient outcomes, Survivor bandanas while trying to start a campfi re on a patients. MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland was the patient safety, national treatment standards (core measures), remote island or decipher “tree mail” clues, but all fi ve fi rst facility in the state approved to offer this service with- effi ciency, fi nancial stability and growth in service. have conquered physical challenges, such as leaking heart out an on-site open-heart surgery program. As a result of the measures, the Top 100 Hospitals dis- valves and blocked arteries, with help from the affi liates of tinction was given to MidMichigan Medical Center– MidMichigan Health. COMPREHENSIVE CARE Beginning in summer 2007, Midland in the teaching hospital category. patients will benefi t from even more extensive heart care “We are pleased to have earned this recognition as a A WILL TO SUCCEED Cardiac survivors tend to when MidMichigan adds open-heart surgery, elective leader in setting new national standards in health care,” have a will to succeed, says Jan Penney, R.N., M.S.N. As angioplasty and electrophysiology services to its current says Richard M. Reynolds, president and CEO of director of cardiovascular services at MidMichigan Medical cardiovascular capabilities. MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland. “This distinction, Center–Midland, she’s proud that MidMichigan offers “With our expanded services, those patients who would coupled with having recently received the 2007 Distin- the services these survivors need to make the most out have had to travel for surgery will be able to have it here in guished Hospital Awards for Clinical Excellence and Patient of life. Midland,” Penney says. “Patients will be able to have all of Safety for the third year in a row, truly validates the dedi- “If they’re going to cardiac rehabilitation, making life- their tests and procedures within our system, which will cated focus of our physicians, staff and volunteer team.” style changes and getting the follow-up care they need, help us offer a better continuity of care.” The full list of honorees may be found at they’re showing that they’re not going to allow this to hold For more information on MidMichigan’s comprehensive www.100tophospitals.com. The 2006 winners from the 14th them back,” Penney says. cardiovascular program, visit www.midmichigan.org/heart. edition of the study have been announced in the March 12, Through its four hospitals in Alma, Clare, Gladwin and For a referral to one of our experienced cardiologists, call 2007, issue of Modern Healthcare. Midland, MidMichigan provides state-of-the-art emergency MidMichigan Health Line toll-free at (800) 999-3199. To learn more about measurable care and advanced diagnostic Above all, listen to your heart and be a survivor too. If qualities at MidMichigan Health, testing, including cardiac you experience any warning signs of heart attack, “Don’t visit www.midmichigan.org/ catheterization in Wait. Don’t Drive. Dial 911.” quality. Read the Survivors’ 3 DONOR LIST RECOGNIZING YOUR SUPPORT 4 CALENDAR SIGN UP FOR A SUMMER CLASS stories—turn to page 2 8 HEALTHGRADES MIDMICHIGAN RECOGNIZED WWW.MIDMICHIGAN.ORG INSIDE H e A lt H Cardiac ‘Survivors ’ tell their stories Carol Formsma, Coleman three other weekday mornings. Bud has been swimming showed that while his two main coronary arteries were After Carol found out about a heart for about 43 years, and he estimates he has logged more open, several smaller arteries were clogged—causing a murmur during an examination than 9,500 water miles. condition known as “angina pectoris.” with her family doctor, she under- “Cardiac rehab did more than strengthen my heart,” Bud Jim’s chest pain was treated with medication, and he went testing, including a cardiac says. “It has rebuilt my confi dence and made me stronger was given a nitroglycerin patch to wear for several weeks stress test at MidMichigan Medical than I was with swimming alone, which also helps with to help relax the blood vessels. Today he no longer wears a Center–Midland to better diagnose my osteoporosis.” patch but carries a nitroglycerin pill to take immediately the problem. Tests showed that a if he begins to experience any more pain. valve in Carol’s heart was not per- John Dunford, Midland “I consider myself lucky,” Jim says. “I feel blessed to have forming as it should and that two John sought help from his physi- it diagnosed, and I can get on with life.” of her arteries were completely plugged. cian after breaking into a sweat Carol underwent open-heart surgery to replace the valve and having difficulty breathing Paula Koontz, Gladwin and bypass two arteries. Following recovery, she began car- during a short walk. A heart cath- Paula was regularly walking four diac rehabilitation at MidMichigan Medical Center–Clare. eterization to measure the health miles a day and had managed to Rehabilitation specialists monitored her heart rate and of coronary arteries showed that lose 100 pounds and keep it off rhythm to ensure that she was exercising enough to recover, 90 percent of them were blocked. for eight years. So when she had but not so much that it would cause further harm. Just a Following triple bypass open- trouble breathing during a shop- half-year after undergoing open-heart surgery, Carol and heart surgery, John received car- ping trip with her daughter, it her husband traveled to Egypt. diac recovery care in his own home through MidMichigan caught her by surprise. “I’m glad I did it,” Carol says. “Having the surgery and Visiting Nurse Association and then entered MidMichigan Luckily her daughter called an rehabilitation gave me confi dence that I could go out on my Medical Center–Midland’s cardiac rehabilitation program. ambulance right away. Paula was own or exercise and do as I wanted to.” He also attended a series of heart awareness seminars at diagnosed with a faulty heart valve and underwent open- MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland, which helped him heart surgery to replace it with a mechanical valve. Bud Carpenter, Midland change his eating habits. Now he is eating smarter and is After her surgery, Paula entered MidMichigan Visiting Following open-heart surgery looking forward to returning to the basketball court with Nurse Association’s (VNA’s) in-home recovery program. to replace his aortic valve, Bud a team sponsored by his church. Nurses provided monitoring and education a few times a has continued to receive ongoing “I thought my life was good before I received heart care, week in her home, and a telehealth device prompted her support from programs available but it’s been much fuller since,” John says. “I have more to measure her vital signs and transmit the data to VNA through MidMichigan. energy and get more done during the day.” between visits for additional monitoring. MidMichigan Visiting Nurse While she must still see her cardiologist every six Association (VNA) nurses visited Jim Judge, Mt. Pleasant months for a checkup, Paula is back to doing the things Bud’s home three to four times Jim fi rst experienced chest pains she loves. a week for about three weeks to while caring for the cattle on his “I didn’t watch my grandkids while I was recuperating. I monitor his progress. Once Bud was healthy enough, he dairy farm. When the pains re- was so glad when I could get back, so their life could return was sent to the second phase of cardiac rehabilitation at turned during church the next day, to normal,” she says. “I’m going to live every day like it was Campus Ridge Rehabilitation Services at MidMichigan his wife insisted on driving him my last.” Medical Offi ces–Campus Ridge.