Survivorship clinic encourages patients
to 'get busy living'
LEWISBURG - According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. Survivors may experience stress or uncertainty about how to adjust to life during or after cancer treatment.
The Thyra M. Humphreys Center for Breast Health of Evangelical Community Hospital steps in to aid survivors in facing their diagnosis and the emotions tied to that diagnosis, and gives them the tools they need to meet each new day with courage.
In the center's definition, a survivor is anyone who has been identified as having breast cancer and survivorship starts on day one.
After surgery, patients meet with Beth Jordan, a certified registered nurse practitioner, to talk about anxieties and fears, adjustments to their physical appearance and about what to expect as they recover and go through treatments.
"Survivorship clinics have become more popular in the last decade because more and more people are living beyond treatment and cancer diagnosis," Jordan said. "The Center for Breast Health and our caring staff slowly guide patients back into a 'new normal' by emphasizing to survivors to 'get busy living.' "
The Humphreys Center is dedicated to screening every patient and their family members to understand their current level of coping. Depending upon their responses and after identifying concerns, a personalized plan is crafted to their needs.
The plans give them the tools they need to reduce the stresses associated with diagnosis including assistance to address financial, emotional, spiritual and other concerns. Plans also outline a variety of community resources designed to promote overall wellness during and after cancer treatment.
With the results from the breast cancer survivorship clinics proving to be helpful for the patient, Evangelical's Committee on Cancer is looking into ways to support survivors of all types of cancers.
For more information, call 522-4212 or visit www.evanhospital.com.
Geisinger earns Environmental Services Certificate of Merit
DANVILLE - Geisinger Health System recently was selected by Health Forum's Health Facilities Management magazine and the Association for the Healthcare Environment as the winner of the 2012 Environmental Services Department of the Year Certificate of Merit. The award was presented at the AHE national conference in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sept. 16-19.
"This award is affirmation that Geisinger offers one of the safest, cleanest and most welcoming patient environments in the country," said Tamara D. Almquist, senior director, environmental and surgical cleaning services, Geisinger Health System. "It is an honor to accept this award and we will continue to improve the environment at all Geisinger facilities in hopes of being named the Environmental Services Department of the Year in 2013."
The sixth annual award, sponsored by Cintas Corp., recognizes the outstanding achievements of leading-edge hospital environmental services and housekeeping teams in maintaining the highest levels of performance in 14 critical areas - major department accomplishments; education and training; productivity; technology; waste-reduction efforts; patient safety; senior leadership engagement with environmental services activities; patient satisfactions metrics; quality improvement initiatives; and environmental services staffing models.
Susquehanna Health welcomes new
electrophysiologist
Susquehanna Health Heart & Vascular Institute at Williamsport Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Bosede Afolabi to its team.
Afolabi is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. She possesses a high level of expertise and training, including fellowships and residency in electrophysiology and cardiology from the University of Florida and Cleveland Clinic.
Electrophysiology is the specialized treatment of heart rhythm disorders using medical management and procedures such as ablation or device implantation. Individuals with existing heart disease are at the greatest risk of heart rhythm disorders, which can be present with no symptoms. Be aware of symptoms including palpitations, dizziness, fainting or chest pain.
Afolabi joins Drs. Joseph P. Bering Jr., Liran Blum, John M. Burks, Hanan Morcos, Donald Nardone, Mohammad Shafique and Robert C. Trautwein in helping to deliver comprehensive heart care to the community.
New patients and referrals may schedule an appointment with Afolabi by calling 321-2800.
RSV prompts child
visitation restrictions
at Geisinger
DANVILLE - Geisinger Medical Center has issued restrictions temporarily prohibiting children under the age of 5 from visiting children's and women's inpatient units because of the seasonal increase in pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases.
"This time each year, the number of RSV infections in children rise precipitously," said pediatrician Dr. Michael Ryan, chairman of Geisinger's Janet Weis Children's Hospital. "It is typical for hospitals to initiate sibling visitor restrictions to children's and women's inpatient areas for the protection of our patients. This is an annual practice and is usually lifted at the end of the winter season."
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YWCA thanks sexual assault nurse examiners
The YWCA of Northcentral PA would like to thank local sexual assault nurse examiners, also called SANEs, who provide exceptional care to men, women and children in the wake of abuse and violence. As medical professionals, they collect fingernail scrapings, document ligature marks or gunshot wounds, and swab for potential DNA evidence while making the health and safety of their patients the top priority.
Following trauma such as sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse and neglect, child maltreatment, human trafficking and other forms of intentional or unintentional injury, forensic nurses and sexual assault nurse examiners provide skill and respect that is vital to victims in crisis.
"I find the sexual assault nurse examiners in our community to be an amazing group of women," said Lynn Bies, manager of Wise Options, a 24/7 emergency shelter and hotline for those facing domestic violence, sexual assault and crime. "Whether it is a child where there is suspected abuse or an adult that has been raped, the compassion and care these women provide is so important. SANEs allow victims to have power and dignity in a time where all that has been stripped away from them."
Perhaps the most difficult job of the nurse examiner is the examination itself. The nurse hears the victim tell the traumatic details of what they have just been through a process that can be as frightening as the act itself.
"Victims deserve competent and compassionate care and SANEs provide that," Bies said.
In addition to medical care, nurse examiners provide emotional support as they share the burden of fear that a parent goes through after bringing their child to the emergency room because of the suspicion of sexual abuse. They hear the shame and pain as a woman tells them of her repeated rape by someone she thought was her friend. But in hearing the details of the abuse, sexual assault nurse examiners offer help and support that significantly increases the reporting of the crime and improve the likelihood of prosecution of the perpetrator.
"I cannot say enough how important these women are to our community," Bies said of the work done by the nurses.
