Free Physicals

The Adams Memorial Hospital (AMH) will once again be offering free athletic physicals for high school students attending Adams Central, Bellmont, and South Adams in May.

The physicals will be performed by the AMH professional staff and will cover high school athletes for the 2013-2014 school year. All high school athletes are required to have a sports physical prior to participation. Physical forms will be available in all three high school offices and must be signed by a parent prior to the physical being done.

The Adams Central physicals will be given on Wednesday, May 15 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Strickler Oncology Building adjacent to the hospital.
Physicals for Bellmont students will be on Thursday, May 23 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Bellmont High School Commons area.

The date for the South Adams physicals has been set for Wednesday, May 29 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and they will be held in the Strickler Oncology Building.
Physicals being offered by the hospital are for students who will be freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors starting next fall. Physicals for younger students in middle school and below are not being offered during this time period.

Parents may elect to have physicals for their son or daughter done elsewhere but there will be a fee for those exam.

 

Adams Memorial Hosptial to offeR Safe Sitter Class Over Springbreak

Adams Memorial Hospital will be offering their “Safe Sitter Class” for ages 11 and up on Tuesday, March 26th from 8:30am to 4pm in the 3rd Floor Education Room at Adams Memorial Hospital. This date was chosen because most area schools are on spring break at this time. The cost of the class is $30. Scholarships are avaiable for those who qualify. Please call Alicia Miller to register at 724-2145 x2256.

 

Drop Box Payments

Officials with the Adams Memorial Hospital announced today that for the convenience of their patients, payments for hospital bills may soon be deposited at the drop box located in the alley adjacent to City Hall in downtown Decatur.

Currently, residents receiving city water bills may utilize the drop box to pay their monthly bill, thus saving the cost of a postage stamp. AMH officials said Decatur Mayor John Schultz agreed to let the hospital use the drop box and payments for hospital bills may be placed there effective March 12th.
Hospital officials said no cash payments should be placed in the deposit envelope and there should be something on the outside of the envelope marking it as a hospital payment.

 

The hospital also accepts payments online at www.adamshospital.com, in person at the cashier’s desk in the hospital lobby or via the mail.

 

ADAMS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

During the week of March 3, Adams Memorial Hospital will participate with the Indiana Hospital Association and other Indiana hospitals to observe Patient Safety Awareness Week and honor a statewide commitment to collectively work together as a health care community to provide the safest care possible. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has joined this effort by proclaiming March 3-9, 2013, as Patient Safety Awareness Week in the state of Indiana.

Patient Safety Awareness Week is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety led by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF). This year’s Patient Safety 7/365 theme highlights the need for everyone to understand the importance of focusing on patient safety year-round.

“Patient Safety 7/365 reminds us that providing safe patient care requires a constant and dedicated effort, 365 days a year. This week encourages a sustainable and conscientious collaboration between not only our health care organization, but also other hospitals, providers and consumers. The week is intended to imprint an indelible statement that efforts toward patient safety must be collaborative and that we must never be satisfied with the status quo,” said Maureen Miller, MSN, RN, RHIT, Manager of Quality and Risk, and Compliance Officer for Adams Health Network.

NPSF encourages creative collaboration among provider groups, patient advocates and other community organizations to help patients and consumers understand how they can participate to be part of the solution. Adams Memorial Hospital supports collaboration and has joined together with area hospitals to participate in a regional patient safety coalition called Northeast Indiana Patient Safety Coalition.

The Northeast Indiana Patient Safety Coalition is one of 11 regional patient safety coalitions in Indiana, led by the Indiana Hospital Association’s Indiana Patient Safety Center. The goal of these coalitions is to forge a bond between hospitals on patient safety, driven by evidence-based practices to markedly improve the quality of care. Hospitals participating in the regional patient safety coalitions operate under the key principle that “we do not compete on patient safety.” Every hospital in the state now has access to a regional coalition to promote leadership and front-line staff engagement in safety improvements.

“Patient safety and the quality of care in our hospitals remains a primary focus of the Indiana Hospital Association and our 11 regional patient safety coalitions that blanket the state,” said Betsy Lee, director, Indiana Patient Safety Center. “Indiana hospitals continue to reach patient safety milestones and find ways to improve the care their patients receive.”

Indiana Hospital Association is a non-profit organization that serves as the professional trade association for 164 Hoosier hospitals. These members are either independent or a member of one of the 23 systems in the state. Membership includes hospitals, multi-hospital systems and community mental health centers. The mission of the IHA is to provide leadership, representation and services in the common best interests of its members as they promote the improvement of community health status. IHA’s primary responsibility is to represent the interests of hospitals in matters of public policy. IHA also provides members with education, communications and data collection services.

 

Mammography Grant

A grant received from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT) will allow the Adams Memorial Hospital to provide free mammograms to low income women in the area it was announced today by IBCAT and AMH officials.

Beth A. Knapp, executive director of IBCAT, said the mission of her group is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screening and diagnosis throughout Indiana. IBCAT grants are 100 percent funded through the purchase of specialty license plates for breast cancer awareness in Indiana.
AMH radiology director Julie Zimmerman noted women who exceed the 150 percent federal poverty level are eligible to receive a free mammogram at the hospital along with a diagnostic reading by a board-certified radiologist. Women should call the AMH Central Scheduling Department at 724-2145, ext. 1507 to see if they qualify and to schedule the exam.

An IBCAT press release noted over $2 million has been distributed since 2002 in competitively-awarded grants for screening mammograms for women in medically underserved population areas in Indiana.

Knapp added that persons who purchase the specialty license plate for breast cancer awareness may take $25 of the $40 fee on their taxes as a charitable deduction, as the laws allow. Plates may be purchased for use on passenger cars, trucks, recreational vehicles up to 11,000 pounds, and motorcycles.

 

New Urology Clinic Coming to Adams Memorial Hospital

 

 

Dr. George Martin, a board-certified urologist and surgeon with the Northeast Indiana Urology practice in Fort Wayne, will begin seeing patients in Decatur at the Adams Memorial Hospital’s Physician Office Building in February.

The hospital and Northeast Indiana Urology have teamed up for many years to offer urology services to area patients but due to the retirement of Dr. Jerome Ludwig, the clinic was closed about a year ago.

Dr. Martin’s new clinic will start on Friday, February 1 and will be located in Suite B of the doctor’s clinic which is the former office of long-time Decatur physician H.S. Lee. Appointments may be made with Dr. Martin by calling his Fort Wayne office at either 436-6667 or 1-888-436-1769 and asking for a time in his Decatur clinic.

Dr. Martin provides a full range of adult urology services. He was born and reared in Fort Wayne having graduated from R. Nelson Snider High School. He graduated from Indiana University with highest honors at both the undergraduate and medical school level and received the Pittman Surgical Scholarship which is awarded annually to the top IU medical student pursuing a surgical specialty.

The newest addition to the Adams Memorial Hospital staff is one of two doctors in the nine-member physician group of Northeast Indiana Urology who performs robotic surgical procedures. He received training for this in a fellowship completed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Martin successfully completed his urology residency at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona where he received the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Fellow Award, an honor bestowed upon the top two surgical residents from all three Mayo Clinic campuses.

Northeast Indiana Urology specializes in research programs and excels in the area of diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. NEIU also has the largest research program in the area and many of its clinical trials have focused on medications and devices associated with prostate cancer. Dr. Martin alone has published more than 20 journal articles and book chapters, has been a presenter of research at national urological association meetings, and has been an invited speaker at international meetings on kidney and prostate cancer.

 

Hospital Accredited-1

Following an extensive and objective review of quality and safety standards, the Adams Memorial Hospital has had its accreditation from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) renewed for another three years.

HFAP is an organization recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and their review covered not only the hospital but included the offices of Decatur Family Medicine, Monroe Family Medicine, Adams County Orthopaedics, the Behavioral Health outpatient locations in Decatur and Berne, and the AMH Convenience Clinic in Berne at Swiss Village.

A press release from the hospital quoted Michael Zarski, chief executive officer of HFAP, as saying “Adams Memorial Hospital clearly demonstrates a commitment to quality patient care. We base our decision to accredit health care facilities base on federal standards, as well as recognized national standards for patient safety, quality improvement, and environmental safety. Adams Memorial Hospital met or exceeded standards in every case.”

Adams Memorial Hospital chief operating officer JoEllen Eidam added “we’re proud to achieve this prestigious distinction. HFAP has recognized our commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and our community. In fact, quality is consistently the priority focus in our strategic plans and goals.”
The hospital announcement said that HFAP is a non-profit, nationally recognized accreditation organization with more than 60 years of experience in health care.

 

Adams Woodcrest Hires New Long Term Care Administrator

The interim administrator at the Woodcrest Retirement Center in Decatur has had the word “interim” removed from his title as Adams Health Network (AHN) president and chief executive officer Tom Nordwick recently announced that Bill Watson has been appointed vice president of long-term care for AHN.
Watson’s position became effective earlier this month and his duties will include being a member of the senior leadership team at AHN, serving as executive director for the Woodcrest Retirement Center, and oversight responsibility for Adams-Evergreen and Adams-Heritage (the assisted living unit and Monroeville nursing home) operated by AHN.

With over 30 years of experience in nursing home administration and long term care, Watson has spent the past several months at Woodcrest in an interim position. His first nursing home administrative job was landed in 1981 and in 2003, he and his wife, Jan, started a company known as Compliance Management Associates LLC where he would work as an interim fill-in for nursing homes and long-term care facilities around the United States. He is a licensed administrator in five states and he said while he has seen the “bad and the horribly ugly” situations that exist in some nursing homes, he called Woodcrest “a very, very nice facility with a lot of positive things going for it and a lot to work with.”

Watson and his wife currently live in Noblesville and “down the road” are interested in moving to Adams County. He said that after years of constant travel of “flying out on Monday, staying in hotels, and then coming back on Friday” made him look for a place to establish roots and that the Woodcrest position is the type of job he’s excited about filling.

“At this time in my life, the travel doesn’t excite me anymore. Most of the things here at Woodcrest are in good shape, but like any building, there is room for improvement,” Watson noted, adding a recent Indiana State Department of Health survey was “dramatically better” than last year. He also alluded to surveys which show most areas of Woodcrest “rated highly” and agreed that Woodcrest has the same problem that the “industry as a whole has” with not enough staff.

“Still, our service level is good. We have very good nurses and CNAs and it’s on their backs that we build our reputation,” he stressed, adding “I am very excited to be here because I believe Adams Health Network is a quality provider.”

The future for long term care in the country remains a question mark with the advent of Obamacare soon to have an effect. “Now it’s mandated and it’s not going away. How we operate our long term care facilities will certainly be affected. We just don’t know yet to what degree. It appears nursing homes will be competing with hospitals for Medicare dollars and it always seems there are fewer dollars available.”

Watson said he could envision several large scale projects on the horizon. For example, electronic medical records will be instituted at both Adams-Woodcrest and Adams-Heritage, a move that will undoubtedly be very costly. The relationship with the hospital pharmacy will no longer exist and another pharmaceutical company will be providing prescriptions for residents. He also said that down the road he would not be surprised to see an expansion of both nursing homes.

 

Local Surgeon to Close Office

Dr. Richard Spady announced today that he will be closing his general surgery practice in Decatur effective December 31, 2012.

 

The well-known physician has been affiliated with the Adams Memorial Hospital since July of 1996 and his practice during that time has been totally devoted to general surgery with his office being located in the Physician’s Office Building at 815 High Street, Decatur.

 

An announcement noted that Dr. Spady indicated he has chosen to pursue other opportunities in the surgical field.

 

“While I look forward to starting a new direction in my career, I have deeply enjoyed my tenure in Decatur and consider it my privilege to have cared for patients in the Adams County community,” Dr. Spady noted.

 

Tom Nordwick, president and chief executive officer of the Adams Health Network, said “Dr. Spady has served our community well and has provided excellent surgical care to his patients. His time and service will be missed by all our hospital staff as well as the community.”

 

Dr. Spady said he would be working in conjunction with the hospital in the upcoming weeks to provide patients with options for continuing their care. Patients may pick up copies of the medical records at Dr. Spady’s office through December 31, after which records may be obtained through the hospital’s medical records department at 724-2145, ext. 1741.

 

Dr. Spady added that he would “without reservation” recommend his patients continue their care or seek service from Dr. Anthony Nigliazzo, a general surgeon who started his practice at AMH earlier this year. Dr. Nigliazzo welcomes new patients and his office may be reached by calling 728-3982.

 

AMH Gift Shop Holiday Hours

The Adams Memorial Hospital Gift Shop has recently announced plans to expand the hours it is open during the holiday season by opening the store on weekends.

 

Chief Operating Officer JoEllen Eidam said the gift shop, which was recently decorated for the Christmas season and has a wide variety of gift items available, will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. up until Christmas. Weekday hours for the gift shop are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On the weekend of November 17 and 18, the Gift Shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to coincide with the Decatur-area Small Businesses Association holiday shopping period. On Saturday, Nov. 17, the hospital will also feature a Holiday Health Check from 7-11 a.m. where lab tests such as a Chem 30, TSH, PSA, and A1C will be available for a nominal fee along with blood pressure and body mass index screenings for the general public.

 

Eidam said the festive AMH Gift Shop has many Christmas decorations available such as wreaths and ornaments along with jewelry, toys, plush items, caramels and chocolates from the Goods Candy Company of Anderson and numerous other gift items. There will also be a 20 percent discount offered on selected Willow Tree collectible statues.

 

The Gift Shop is staffed daily by hospital volunteers and profits earned go back to assist hospital-related programs.

 

 

annual Autumn Health Fair

The annual Autumn Health Fair will once again be offered by the Adams Memorial Hospital at the South Adams Senior Center in Berne on Friday, November 2 from 7-10 a.m.

The health fair will allow people of all ages to receive a variety of lab tests and a flu shot as well as a chance to review educational booths and displays.

AMH community outreach director Susan Sefton said a Chem 30 blood test which is good for triglycerides, good and bad cholesterol, glucose, heart, liver and kidney functions, as well as other minerals in the body is available for $30 and requires patients to fast for at least 10 hours. For an additional $10, individuals may have a thyroid function/metabolism test drawn, or they may have that test alone for $20.

Men wishing to have a PSA test used in screening for prostate cancer may do so for a $20 fee and flu shots will be given for $25. The hospital will file the cost of the flu shot with Medicare so those individuals should remember to have their Medicare card with them.

Sefton also said the following booths and educational displays will be at the Health Fair: anti-tobacco coalition, free hearing screens, free blood pressure tests, Family Life Care, colo-rectal take home kits for $5, Diabetes Connection, Adams County Crisis Center, Behavioral Health Resource Center, Optometrist, and Massage Therapy. Persons wishing to schedule a mammogram while visiting the Health Fair may also arrange a date to have it done at the hospital.

Coffee, juice and muffins will be available at the Health Fair as well. For more information, persons may contact 724-2145, ext. 1670.

 

ISDH HONOR

The Adams Memorial Hospital was honored recently by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) for its “best practices” of promoting hepatitis B immunizations in newborn children. ISDH public health investigator Rupert E. Arceo, third from left, is shown above presenting a “Gold Award” to maternity center patient care manager Sharolyn Faurote. The “Gold” level is the top award given to an Indiana hospital that delivers babies and on the average only two or three Hoosier hospitals receive this award annually. Others in the photo, left to right, include maternity center registered nurse Deb Wilder, chief operating officer Jo-Ellen Eidam, Arceo, Faurote, and chief executive officer Tom Nordwick.

Although Hepatitis B immunizations are required for children, an Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) survey has shown the Adams Memorial Hospital (AMH) is one of the best hospitals in the state in making sure children born at their location are afforded that choice.

In a brief ceremony Thursday afternoon at the hospital, ISDH public health investigator Rupert E. Arceo presented hospital officials with a “Gold Award” that lauded the hospital “in recognition of your best practices in the prevention of perinatal Hepatitis B infections.”

Arceo said there are 98 hospitals in Indiana that deliver babies and through a four-year project with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ISDH officials have surveyed roughly 25 hospitals a year with facilities earning a “Gold,” “Silver,” or “Bronze” award.

On average, about two to three hospitals a year receive “Gold” status, including AMH this year.

During the survey, the ISDH randomly selects records of mothers and infants. Results of the latest survey noted 190 live births were recorded at the hospital in 2010 and there were zero Hepatitis B positive deliveries. As one of its standing or written policies, Adams Memorial Hospital administers hepatitis vaccines to newborns prior to their discharge from the hospital or within 12 hours of birth if the baby tests positive for the virus.

Parents of children born at the hospital have the option of declining the vaccine if, for example, they are opposed on religious grounds, or other reasons. Of all of the required childhood immunizations, only the Hepatitis B shot is given right after delivery in the hospital and is the first of a series of three shots with the others to be given at between one-two months of age and then again at six months.

Other immunizations required for children according to CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines include:

Two Months-DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), PCV (pneumococcal disease), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), Polio, and RV (rotavirus).
Four Months-DTaP, PCV, Hib, Polio, and RV
Six Months-DTaP, PCV, Hib, Polio, and RV
12 Months-MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), PCV, Hib, Varicella (chicken pox), and Hepatitis A
15 Months-DTaP

Guidelines also recommend children start receiving an annual flu shot at the age of six months or older every flu season.
During the hospital ceremony, Arceo told AMH chief executive officer Tom Nordwick “the Adams County community should be comforted in knowing the AMH staff does an outstanding job in following national standards and guidelines regarding “Best Practices.’”

 

AGING WITH DIGNITY AND RELEVANCE

Join Chicagoland Author, Virginia Garberding, R.N. for a discussion entitled Aging with Dignity and Relevance based on her best selling book called Please Get to Know Me. The seminar will be on Thursday, September 20th at 6:30pm at Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur Room #2.

 

Join us to explore how the Senior can age well and not become just a number! Questions like “What is going on when the senior seems no longer able to reason and demonstrates poor judgement?” and “ What is meant by terms like “mild cognitive impairment”, is this the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease?” An excellent seminar for caregivers. Please call Susan Sefton to register at 724-2145 x1670.

 

WOODCREST CONCERT BY THE POND

Seniors, 55+, plan on attending an end of summer bash-concert by the pond on Thursday, September 27th from 6pm to 7:30pm. Classic Voice (www.classic-voice.com) will be at the event to perform.

 

Tour our beautiful Open House Villa #35 from 5pm-6pm. Find out all the details on how easy and affordable it is to live at Woodcrest and enjoy refreshments by the pond. Please RSVP to Natasha Graves at 724-2145 x6209 by September 17th.

 

Prenatal Classes 2012

 

 

Behavioral Health Classes and Information

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER OUTPATIENT COUNSELING SERVICES

Adams Memorial Hospital offers 2 locations for confidential outpatient counseling services in Decatur and Bern. The Resource Centers were developed with privacy and professionalism in mind. Services are available for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Counseling is provided by therapists and social workers. The Resource Centers specialize in Anger Management, Anxiety Issues, Depression, Family Issues, Eating Disorders, ADHD, Grief/Loss, Alcohol/Drug Issues, and Life Changes. To schedule an appointment in Decatur call 728-3906. To schedule an appointment in Berne call 589-2442.

“ALCOHOL CESSATION” PROGRAM

Adams Memorial Hospital is now offering a program called “Alcohol Cessation”. The program is being offered on an outpatient basis so that patients can continue to work, and be at home with family while still undergoing the medically supervised treatment. The program is a joint venture between the Adams Memorial Hospital’s Behavioral Health Community Resource Center and StatCare. If alcohol is disrupting your family and work life, please call 260-724-2145 x3906 (Decatur) or 260-589-3913 x3823 (Berne).

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES

Freedom From Smoking Classes…

Open to the community. New classes start every 8 weeks. Call John Gibson at 724-2145 x 3404

 

Court-ordered Tobacco Education Classes…

Offered on an on-going basis. Call John Gibson at 724-2145 x3404 for more information.