Prevention, Diagnosis,
and Treatment
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News and Events FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: February 23, 2010 Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Subject: Cancer Lecture Series, Free and Open to the Public PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) and The Given Institute of the University of Colorado School of Medicine begin their annual free "brown bag" lecture series on Wednesday, March 3. This year’s series focuses on cancer – specifically surviving cancer through prevention, identification, and treatment. Doug Rovira, MD, medical oncologist and medical director of oncology at Aspen Valley Hospital, developed the program with a focus on survival. "As an oncologist, my first hope is that people don’t ever experience cancer," he said. "The reality, though, is that for a variety of reasons, a lot of people will get cancer. Once diagnosed, hopefully in its early stages, it is my goal to successfully treat the cancer." The first program takes place March 3 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Given Institute. Prevention specialist Tim Byers, MD, MPH, will discuss the evidence-based role of diet, exercise, and supplements in the prevention of cancer. Dr. Rovira will discuss the prevalence of cancer today and the potential benefits of genetic counseling. Upcoming programs include early diagnosis – what you could do and should do, and how it can make a difference, on March 10. This program focuses on the four most common cancers seen in the Roaring Fork Valley. Dr. Rovira will present information on colon cancer, AVH radiologist Charlie Brown will discuss lung cancer, Invision Sally Jobe breast radiology specialist Lora Barke will talk about breast cancer, and AVH urologist Brian Murphy will address prostate cancer. On March 17, treatment options will be discussed with Dr. Rovira focusing on chemotherapy and complementary methods, AVH general surgeon Bill Rodman addressing surgical care, and Shaw Regional Cancer Center radiation oncologist Patti Hardenbergh presenting information on radiation therapy. Informational booths at each session will feature Pathfinders, the Aspen Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Aspen Cancer Survivor Center, Shaw Regional Cancer Center, and Aspen Valley Hospital. All programs take place at the Given Institute at 100 E. Francis Street and are from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch. It is not necessary to sign up for the programs, but questions can be answered by calling AVH at 544-1296. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Date: November 18, 2009 Subject: Visitors’ Policy Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) relaxed its visitor restrictions in a decision made yesterday. The visitor policy was tightened last month as a precautionary measure and in response to pandemic H1N1 flu. The incidence of influenza-like illness has decreased in the community and at AVH and, therefore, the more stringent policy is not needed at this time. "In conjunction with Community Health Services, we will continue to monitor influenza-like illness in our community and make adjustments to our practices as indicated," said Chief Nursing Officer Kathryn Chamberlin. In the meantime, there will be no limits on the age of visitors. However, nurses will do as they have in the past, i.e., individualize visitations based on the patient’s condition and what is in his/her best interest. The more stringent policy, in effect since mid-October, limited visitors to two per inpatient and did not allow children 12 and under in the hospital. AVH continues to ask people who are sick not to visit patients. Handwashing and respiratory hygiene (coughing/sneezing into a tissue or sleeve) is encouraged. If in doubt about the appropriateness of a visit, please don’t hesitate to call the hospital in advance at 925-1120. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Date: November 3, 2009 Subject: Cardiac Rehabilitation Aspen Valley Hospital's (AVH) long-standing cardiac rehabilitation program is now providing services to patients in two locations: at AVH and at After-Hours Medical Care in Basalt. The program started in 1995 at AVH and has steadily grown. Demand now warrants an expansion to the mid-valley. With the availability of space within After-Hours Medical Care, the expansion was accomplished. "Many of our patients have moved down-valley," said Julie Puchkoff, MS, CSCS, exercise physiologist and one of the clinicians who works with the program. "With limited space in Aspen, it just made sense to go where many of our patients are." Services in Basalt are offered Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Patients who have experienced cardiac problems such as surgery, heart attack, angioplasty, or heart failure are eligible for the program. During each cardiac rehab session, vital signs, heart rhythm, oxygenation, and response to exercise are monitored. Staff certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) supervises all activity. "Our goal is to return patients to full function in a safe, supportive environment," noted Puchkoff. "We've had a great response since opening in Basalt. Our mid-valley patients really appreciate the service close to home." To learn more about the program, contact Puchkoff at 544-1383. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 8, 2009 Subject: Influenza Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 As more influenza-like illness comes to our community, more people are seeking medical care. Aspen Valley Hospital would like to remind people that most influenza can be managed at home with "support" therapy, i.e., fluids, rest, and over-the-counter medications. According to emergency medicine specialist Catherine Bernard, MD, physician offices and the hospital ER have seen a number of sick people who actually didn’t need medical care. After evaluation, most have been sent home with a recommendation that they drink lots of liquids, get plenty of rest, and take Tylenol or ibuprofen for fever and discomfort. "The majority of people we’re seeing are incurring an unnecessary expense and needlessly exposing others to their illness," says Dr. Bernard. "Stay home, take care of yourself, and be alert to symptoms that might require medical treatment." Pregnant women and those with a chronic disease such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, or heart disease should seek medical care. In addition, if one has difficulty breathing, is unable to drink liquids, or becomes severely ill, medical care should be sought from a local physician or the hospital emergency room. After-Hours Medical Care in Basalt is also available evenings and week-ends. Finally, prevention is still the best medicine for flu according to health officials. Frequent handwashing (or use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), coughing/sneezing into your sleeve or a tissue, avoiding contact with sick people, and getting vaccinated against both seasonal and H1N1 flu (as vaccines become available) are all strongly recommended. Upcoming seasonal flu clinics include:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544.1296 Date: September 24, 2009 Re: Cancer Care More than 20,000 Coloradoans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2009. Dozens of new cancers will be identified in the Roaring Fork Valley, and those patients will undoubtedly be exploring their best options for care. In addition to a quick and accurate diagnosis, they'll want information about treatment alternatives and the support of their family, friends, and healthcare providers. "We all know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer," said Dave Ressler, Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) CEO. "And we all can relate to the fear and anxiety that person feels. People want the best possible medical care, and most want that care close to home. They want to be where their support system is, where they're most comfortable." That's why AVH is expanding its care for cancer patients with an affiliation with two leading cancer centers: Invision Sally Jobe in Denver and Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards. In addition, oncologist Doug Rovira, MD, has expanded his office hours in Aspen and now sees patients at AVH on a weekly, rather than monthly, basis. "We have a full slate of experts available to our cancer patients and staff," said Ressler, who noted that AVH has long provided oncology services in the valley with two oncologists on staff (Dr. Rovira and Ira Jaffrey, MD), chemotherapy services, and Pathfinders, a group of mental health professionals who support patients with their social and emotional needs. "This is not a new commitment, but an expanded commitment," Ressler added. Invision Sally Jobe focuses on imaging and breast cancer diagnostics and has been collaborating with AVH for several months in preparation for the formal affiliation. They have reviewed and helped update AVH's processes and technologies, and have been working closely with AVH mammography and ultrasound technologists. Invision Sally Jobe radiologists – specialists in breast imaging and image-guided intervention – began reading AVH patients' mammograms and ultrasounds earlier this summer and will continue to provide this service as part of a larger affiliation between AVH, Invision Sally Jobe, and Radiology Imaging Associates (whose radiologists staff Invision Sally Jobe facilities). "This raises the standard of our mammography and breast health program to that of Sally Jobe, which has a national reputation for excellence," said Elaine Gerson, administrator of Diagnostic Imaging services at AVH. With the exception of a few specialized diagnostic procedures, all services will be provided at AVH. Services provided to AVH patients include screening and diagnostic exams and procedures, as well as a risk assessment and prevention program. "There was a time when early detection and subsequent treatment were all we could do to save lives from breast cancer," said Lora Barke, DO, radiologist and medical director of Invision Sally Jobe. "Now, through genetic counseling, testing, and imaging studies we can identify patients with high risk and use medical therapy as a preventive measure. It's a new way of thinking about breast cancer." Invision Sally Jobe physicians will work closely with local physicians. Communication with AVH's primary care providers, surgeons, and oncologists is critical to the success of the relationship. "Patients want the advantages of specialty care, but they also have an invaluable relationship with their local doctors," said Dr. Barke. Shaw Regional Cancer Center provides a broad scope of services including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of most types of cancer, and its philosophy is similar to that of Invision Sally Jobe. "We believe in multidisciplinary care close to home. People in Aspen shouldn't have to travel far for their cancer care," said Joe Deuschle, Executive Director at Shaw. "And while Aspen and surrounding communities aren't large enough to support all aspects of care – such as radiation therapy – we're fairly close to Aspen and provide the benefits of a large cancer center." In addition to a multitude of diagnostic and treatment programs, Shaw operates Jack's Place, with overnight accommodations for those who travel to Edwards for care and would like to stay for the duration of their treatment. Located on the Shaw campus, Jack's Place offers a comfortable, home-like environment for patients and their families. On the Shaw team are a variety of cancer specialists, all of whom essentially become part of the cancer program at AVH. Medical specialties represented at Shaw are medical and radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology. Nurses, the pharmacist, nutritionist, and physicist are all oncology certified. Rounding out the team are a social worker, medical librarian, genetic counselor, radiation therapists, physical therapists, and an exercise physiologist. Shaw's "Fit for Survival" program helps patients stay fit and well-nourished during their treatment. New to Shaw's state-of-the-art technologies is a PET/CT scanner. This equipment identifies active tumors and helps physicians determine if the treatment is working. In this way, physicians can adjust the treatment regimen quickly and effectively. "Aspen Valley Hospital's patients are part of a network of care," said Deuschle. "If a patient needs a complex or uncommon treatment that is not available in Aspen or at our center, the cancer team at AVH and The Shaw know the leaders and institutions that provide these services and will assist patients in getting to the right program for care. We work closely with the University of Colorado as well as other larger institutions." Dr. Rovira – AVH's oncology medical director – has been seeing cancer patients in Aspen since 1993. He, too, is excited about the affiliations and his increased presence in the valley, which includes both Aspen and Glenwood Springs. "We will be able to better manage complications, maintain closer contact with patients, and enhance safety and overall care." At AVH Dr. Rovira works closely with primary care physicians, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, specialty trained nurses, a nurse practitioner, and the Pathfinders program. "This is a big local team," he said, "all dedicated to the best possible support for cancer patients and their families. The relationship with Shaw and Invision Sally Jobe further enhances the care we provide." Dr. Rovira emphasized that the goal of the AVH oncology program is to decrease the number of people dying from cancer. That means prevention, early detection, and state-of-the-art treatment – and they are all available to AVH patients by leading experts in the field of cancer care. For more information about AVH's cancer care, call 544.1507. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Date: August 4, 2009 Subject: AVH Award Ranked in the top 5 percent of hospitals Avatar International, a healthcare research and consulting firm, honored Aspen Valley Hospital with a "Best Performer" award at a conference in Denver last month. Avatar is the third-party administrator of the hospital's patient survey program. The award acknowledged 20 different hospitals throughout the country for "consistently high standards of patient care across multiple services lines" and represents the top 5 percent of hospitals in Avatar's national data base of hundreds of hospitals. In making the announcement, David Medvedeff, PharmD, MBA, CEO of Avatar said, "To attain a high level of patient satisfaction for a single service line is commendable. To achieve this result across all of the primary service lines within a hospital is indicative of the organizational commitment to service excellence and is a remarkable accomplishment." The award is given to those hospitals with the highest overall combined score for patient satisfaction in inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and ambulatory surgery services. In addition, AVH received an award for the seventh year in a row for "exceeding patient expectations." In 2008, only 30% of Avatar's clients were distinguished with this award. "We have a long-standing clarity about who we are and the only reason we exist – to provide extraordinary healthcare," said AVH CEO Dave Ressler. "Both of these awards validate the commitment our staff has made to serve our patients and their families." FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: February 9, 2009 Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Subject: After-Hours Medical Care Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) is pleased to announce the opening of the valley's first clinic for "after-hours" medical care. Located in the Aspen-Basalt Health Care Center at 234 Cody Lane in Basalt, the clinic opens on Monday, February 16. Hours are 5:00 – 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Walk-in visits are welcome during those times. The clinic is a cost-effective way to receive needed medical care when your doctor's office is closed. Previously, a costly visit to a hospital emergency room was often the only option when a person was injured or ill and in need of evening or week-end medical attention. According to Bart Outzen, director of diagnostic imaging at AVH and leader in the development of the clinic, "There are still times when people need to go to the ER, but for many conditions --- for example, upper respiratory infections, flu, sprains, simple fractures, lacerations, urinary tract infections --- the after-hours clinic will allow for quick examination, diagnosis, and treatment." For follow-up care, patients will be asked to make an appointment with their primary care doctor or a specialist. The clinic is not intended to replace the personal physician. Staff for the clinic includes registered nurses, X-ray technologists, and physicians. Providing full-time physician coverage is Kiernan Smith, MD, a board-certified family medicine specialist. Dr. Smith received his medical degree at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland. His internship took place in Asheville, North Carolina, and his residency was completed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Most recently, Dr. Smith was an employee health physician for a VA Hospital in Albuquerque. As a family medicine specialist, Dr. Smith was trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages. "Evidence-based practice is my knowledge base," said Dr. Smith, "but the development of trust is what allows a physician to implement the practice. I let the patient tell their story. Once they feel listened to, they feel known, and that allows me, as a physician, to help them." Dr. Smith's wife, Farrell McClain, MD, is also a family medicine specialis. A former resident of Breckenridge and snowboard instructor, it was her love of the mountains that stimulated the couple's interest in moving to the Roaring Fork Valley. Dr. McClain will work part-time at the after-hours clinic, covering several shifts per month. She was also trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and completed her internship and residency in North and South Carolina. Drs. Smith and McClain are the parents of two daughters, ages 3 ½ years and 5 months. The after-hours clinic is located in the Aspen-Basalt Health Care Center, a project of the Aspen Valley Medical Foundation (AVMF). The building will also house the new offices of Hospice of the Valley, as well as Pathfinders, Aspen Counseling Center, and Community Health Services on a part-time basis. The building represents the extension of healthcare services from Aspen to the mid-valley, fulfilling the vision and commitment of AVMF to serve the increasing health and human service needs of valley-wide communities. To reach the Aspen-Basalt Health Care Center and after-hours care, turn west off Highway 82 in Basalt at the "Park and Ride." Go left on Cody Lane. Travel .1 mile and the building is on the left. For more information about after-hours care, call 544-1250. |
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