www.LakelandHealth.orgwww.LakelandHealth.org

a newsletter for associates, volunteers

and physicians of Lakeland HealthCareJuly 4, 2012

A Grand Opening!Associates, community members, and area business

leaders lined up to get an inside look of the beautiful new Lakeland Medical Suites, Niles on Wednesday, June 27. Approximately 600 people toured the recently completed three-story medical office building during our Grand Opening and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event.

“We are delighted to have made this investment in the Niles community – to put up a building like this and fill it with quality physicians for area residents,” said Loren B. Hamel, MD, Lakeland’s President & CEO.

The 42,000 square foot building is currently home to 10 specialty physician practices and honors Lakeland’s commitment to creating healing environments for patients. The décor throughout the facility features warm, natural colors. High windows offer increased privacy. Even the wide, ribbed stairs were designed with patient comfort in mind.

“Those kinds of details matter,” Dr. Hamel said.The Lakeland Medical Suites, Niles is located at 42 N. St. Joseph

Avenue, across the street from Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.

Inside this Issue:•Dialysis Coming to Benton Harbor

•HealthCurrents Teaser

• Lakeland Family Medicine, Niles Open House

Sign Up For

Call1-800-LAKELAND

Don’t Miss the July ForumsSessions Start on the 17th!

Live sessions of the Forums return to a location near you in just two weeks – reserve time on your calendar today! See what we have in store for you. Learn more about what’s happening at Lakeland, and enter for your chance to win one of our great door prizes!

We’ll also be offering associates the opportunity to view the presentation electronically – and receive attendance credit! That’s right. If you can’t find a time that’s convenient to attend a live session, just go to myNetLearning to watch the eForums. It’s the same great presentation, just viewable on your time.

To receive credit, you’ll be asked to complete a brief quiz following the video.

For a complete list of live-session dates, times, and locations, refer to the flyer included in this issue of the Pulse.

July

(L-R): Jeff Grossman, Practice Manager, Lakeland HealthCare; Lindsay Iwan, Practice Manager, Lakeland HealthCare; Dan Shelton, President & CEO, Shelton Construction; Warren White Jr., Vice President, Lakeland Physician Practices; Robert Ward, DO, FACN, Berrien Regional Associates in Neurology; Loren B. Hamel, MD, President & CEO, Lakeland HealthCare; (back) Jose Gomez, MD, Medical Director of Wound Center, Lakeland HealthCare; Michael Schuhknecht, DO, FACOS, Medical Director of Bariatric Services, Lakeland HealthCare; (back) Julian Lewiecki, Program Director, Lakeland Center for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine; Jan Crocker, Director of Practice Operations, Lakeland HealthCare; (back) Dean Bergeman, AIA, Vice President, MPA Architects; Daniel Bacchiocchi, AIA, Director of Construction & Property Management, Lakeland HealthCare

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Our MissionTo be the leader in safe, high-quality,

patient-centered, compassionate, health-related services.

P U L S E Message from the PresidentLoren B. Hamel, MDPresident & CEOEditor:

Chad Simcox

Designer:Sarah Clemons

Contributing Writers:Laura Bailey

Megan Gallert

Director of Marketing:Megan Yore

Vice President of Strategy and Business Innovation:

Ray Cruse

Lakeland HealthCare publishes the Pulse for our associates, volunteers, and physicians. Story ideas for publication

must be submitted at least three weeks in advance of publication dates and are

to subject to approval and editing by the Marketing department.

For a complete list of distribution dates and to access archived issues, visit the

Pulse homepage at myLakeland.

Within the health system, please mail correspondence to:

Chad SimcoxMarketing

csimcox@lakelandregional.org

Outside the health system, please mail correspondence to:

PulseMarketing department

Lakeland at Meadowbrook2550 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 201

Benton Harbor, MI 49022Phone: (269) 927-5271

Fax: (269) 927-5232

Visit us on the web at:www.lakelandhealth.org

Remember to “like” us on Facebook, watch us at YouTube, and

follow up on Twitter.

Do you ever feel that you’re working harder than ever? Do you wonder if you’re making a difference, or if anyone recognizes that difference?

I’ll bet your answer, and the answer for just about everyone else, is “of course.” It might even be something more like, “are you kidding?” Not only is that feeling understandable, you have every right to feel that way.

After all, healthcare reform is nothing less than a tidal wave of change. And, as you’ve already heard, the Supreme Court, in a 5-to-4 split decision, ruled it constitutional. We’ve been working hard to prepare our organization for the requirements of the legislation. Those efforts continue.

We, like everyone else in healthcare, are running a marathon to continuously improve the value of the care we provide. That value is being measured and compared on quality, service, and cost. Although the race may sometimes feel exhausting, it’s good for Lakeland – and it’s certainly good for those we serve.

So how are we doing? Obviously there is not just one answer

to that question, but there are multiple indicators on how we compare to other health systems. In general, Lakeland is doing well. Here is the latest example. It comes from the June issue of Modern Healthcare, which annually compares health systems around the country on a dozen key performance indicators. Their comparison includes overall mortality, complication rates, overall safety, core

The Race Continuesmeasures, readmission rates, patient satisfaction, and several other categories.

Lakeland HealthCare is ranked in the top 20% of health systems across the nation. This is the third year in a row that Lakeland has placed within the top quintile. When compared with the rest of the country, the highly-ranked health systems had about 20% lower mortality and serious complication rates than their peers. You should be very proud of what you’ve contributed to that remarkable success.

What that ranking did not include were measures of overall cost. We know from multiple other sources that compare both inpatient and outpatient charges, along with the overall cost of care, that Lakeland is ranked the best in our region. When compared to our neighboring health care systems, our inpatient and outpatient charges are 27% to 44% lower. Obviously we rank competitively across the nation as well.

I know those objective measures of the value of the care that Lakeland and that you provide did not come easy. I wish I could tell you that it will get easier. I can’t.

But you are making a significant difference. Your efforts have been noticed. You are making healthcare better and helping Lakeland save lives, restore health, and reduce suffering. You are making Lakeland a place where you can be proud to work, and a place you can be confident to receive or recommend care.

Yes, the race continues. But it’s a righteous race.

3July 4, 2012

More than 80 patients from Benton Harbor make the trek to the Lakeland Health Park in St. Joseph three days per week to receive necessary dialysis treatments. Liberty Dialysis, Lakeland HealthCare, and Lake Michigan Nephrology took the first steps toward offering that service to residents locally on Tuesday, June 26 – breaking ground on a new 8,740-square-foot outpatient hemodialysis treatment center in Benton Harbor.

Construction on the $1.8 million project is expected to be completed by January 2013. Liberty Dialysis at Lakeland Benton Harbor will be located at 338 8th Street and will offer 21 hemodialysis stations. The facility will employ approximately 16 staff members and will be open six days per week.

“I’m happy to be a part of the third generation of my family who’s been involved in helping the Benton Harbor community,” said Katie Kwon, MD, Lake Michigan Nephrology. “My father grew up a half a mile from here, and my grandfather served on Benton Harbor school board. Kidney dialysis is a major issue for many area residents, and this facility will help them better manage this chronic disease.”

Dialysis Services Coming to Benton HarborDialysis is a process of removing waste and excess water from the

blood, and is used primarily to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function. Treatment typically lasts anywhere from three to five hours and must be provided at least three times per week.

“We are very pleased to be one of the partners working together on this project,” said Daniel F. Hopp, Chairman of the Board at Lakeland HealthCare. “It brings a much-needed service to the over 80 patients from the City of Benton Harbor who receive treatment at other facilities.”

According to Hopp, Lakeland and its partners provided 214 patients with over 33,000 dialysis treatments during 2011.

Liberty Dialysis and its affiliates develop, own, and operate dialysis clinics throughout the United States. Liberty has a history of developing clinics in underserved communities in conjunction with local physicians and non-profit organizations.

Lake Michigan Nephrology serves patients through their main office in St. Joseph and through a satellite location in Niles. Physicians at this practice include Daniel Brash, MD, Katie Kwon, MD, and Oliver Songlingco, MD.

Left to Right: Donna Evans, RN, Clinical Manager, Liberty Dialysis at Lakeland Royalton; Oliver Songlingco, MD and Katie Kwon, MD, Lake Michigan Nephrology; Lynn Pino, Clinical Manager, Liberty Dialysis; Loren B. Hamel, MD, President & CEO, Lakeland HealthCare; Dan Hopp, Chairman of the Board, Lakeland HealthCare, and Vice Chairman of the Board, Cornerstone Alliance; Tunde Oloyede, RN, Clinical Manager, Liberty Dialysis at Lakeland Niles; Nickie Sherrick, RN, Staff Educator, Liberty Dialysis; Laurie Fleming, Vice President of Outpatient Services, Lakeland HealthCare; John Proos, Michigan State Senator, 21st District; Scott Geerlings, Geerlings Development

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Sports Physical vs. Wellness ExamWhat’s the Difference?

Jillian Pagels has two older sisters: Kiersten, 13, and Samantha, 16. They all receive wellness exams annually with their primary care provider, Georg Schultz, MD, a local pediatrician at Southwestern Medical Clinic (SWMC) in Stevensville. It’s a routine that fits with the established guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and it also gives Jamie Woerdehoff, Jillian’s mother, peace of mind.

According to Dr. Schultz, there is a substantial difference between a sports physical and complete wellness exam.

To read this article in its entirety, grab a copy of the summer 2012 issue of HealthCurrents magazine. Copies are available at your Lakeland location today.

You can access an electronic copy by visiting lakelandhealth.org/healthcurrents. Register online to receive HealthCurrents in the mail or send an email to marketing@lakelandregional.org

Lakeland to Consolidate Two Physical Therapy Offices

As part of a strategic plan to eliminate duplicate services in close proximity to one another, Lakeland Rehabilitation Services, Stevensville, located at 5709 St. Joseph Avenue, officially closed on June 29.

Patients can expect a seamless transition and the same high level of service at the Lakeland Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Health Park Medical Suites, located at 3950 Hollywood Road, Suite 140 in St. Joseph. Stevensville physical therapists Edward Smith and Lisa Willer have joined the team in St. Joseph.

For more information or to refer a patient, please call (269) 556-7150.

Join Our Pool of ParticipantsSwimmer’s Ear Medical Research Study

Local doctors at Southwestern Medical Clinic are conducting a research study for safety and effectiveness of investigational antibiotic drops for swimmer’s ear.

Frequently seen in warm, humid conditions, swimmer’s ear is due to a bacterial infection of the external ear causing itching, swelling, and tenderness.

Patients are eligible to participate if they:• Are six months of age or older• Have a clinical diagnosis of swimmer’s ear in at least one ear• Are able to complete four visits at our clinic spanning no

more than two weeksEligible participants will receive study-related medical

evaluations and investigational medication at no cost. Reimbursement for time and travel may also be provided.

To find out more about this research study, please call Southwestern Medical Clinic Pediatric Research Specialists at (269) 932-1026.

Tips for Family CaregiversGet Access to this Great Resource Today!

Do you or someone you know provide care for a family member or friend? You are not alone. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 65 million people in the United States spend an average of 20 hours per week caring for a chronically ill, disabled, or aging family member or friend.

If you’re looking for a little extra support or expert advice, then sign up for “Tips for Family Caregivers.” It’s a free monthly eNewsletter full of information intended to help caregivers.

Here’s a small sampling of what you’ll find in this great resource every month:• KeystoStressManagement

Caregivers often report higher levels of every day stress. Learn different research-based techniques to help you better manage it.

• DealingwithCriticismYou can’t stop others from giving criticism, but you can become wiser about how to deal with it. Discover tips for managing difficult situations.

• WhentoChooseaSkilled-NursingFacilityA “nursing home” or “skilled-nursing facility” used to be the only option for care outside the hospital. That is no longer the case. Get answers about different options and when is the right time for you to contact a nursing home.To subscribe for “Tips for Family Caregivers,” contact

Lenee Svorec, Communications Specialist, at (269) 927-5449 or lsvorec@lakelandregional.org.

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The Miracle EngagementKendall Cottrell knew his method of proposal might be called

a miracle engagement. What he didn’t know was just how much of a miracle it would actually be.

Kendall, 24, from Benton Harbor, was expecting the birth of his first child with his girlfriend, Ashley Clemons. The plan was to propose to Ashley, 21, on the day of their baby’s birth. He had everything arranged for the special day.

“I’d been planning to ask her for quite some time – even before she got pregnant,” Kendall said. “I knew that she was the one, and I wanted to do something really special when I proposed. I got this idea in my head, and it just wouldn’t go away. Then it almost didn’t happen at all.”

During delivery, it was discovered that the baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck – twice. The cord was also knotted twice, making the situation extremely precarious. The umbilical cord supplies the fetus with vital nutrients and oxygen from the placenta. If blocked, the baby can die.

But this story is no tragedy. The baby, Caden Michael Cottrell, was born healthy and happy at 8:16 a.m. on Wednesday, May 30 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. The “miracle baby” weighed six pounds, nine ounces, and measured 19 and three-quarter inches.

“I was really scared,” Kendall said. “I was so happy when I knew that he made it. He is 100% miracle. The nurses said that we are very lucky.”

Now knowing that Caden was healthy, Kendall proceeded with his plan. After the baby was bathed, the nurses put him in a

Seeing Patients at a New Location

Sleep Medicine of Lakeland has a convenient new location for patients. Inga Sriubiene, MD, Medical Director of Lakeland Sleep Disorders and Treatment Center, moved her St. Joseph office to the Health Park Medical Suites at 3950 Hollywood Road, Suite 200.

This offers patients improved access to the Center for Outpatient Services, St. Joseph and other specialty care providers located at the Lakeland Health Park.

For more information or to refer a patient, please call (269) 408-1115.

New parents, Ashley Clemons and Kendall Cottrell are pictured together on the day of their son, Caden’s, birth. They also celebrated their engagement.

shirt with a very special message. It said, “Will you marry me?” The engagement ring was placed upon Caden’s tiny ring finger, and the nurses handed him to Ashley.

“They were amazing... I couldn’t have asked for better care or better people.” ~Kendall Cottrell

Once Ashley read the words and figured out what was going on, she immediately said, “Yes!”

“I was so surprised, and I’m so happy,” Ashley said. “What could have been a very bad day with Caden’s situation, turned out to be probably the best day of my life.”

Family members were there to share the special occasion with the couple. Kendall and Ashley were extremely grateful to their care providers.

“They were amazing,” Kendall said. “Our baby is alive and healthy, and I can’t thank them enough for everything that they did. They were really excited about my proposal, too, and played along perfectly. I couldn’t have asked for better care or better people.”

www.LakelandHealth.orgwww.LakelandHealth.org

a newsletter for associates, volunteers

and physicians of Lakeland HealthCare

6

Lakeland Family Medicine, Niles Invites You to an Open House

Providers and staff from the new Lakeland Family Medicine, Niles would like to invite you to attend their Community Open House on Thursday, July 12, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Current and prospective patients will have the opportunity to see the newly remodeled practice, enter prize drawings, and meet all nine physicians, which include four new resident doctors.

“...our patients and staff can already see what a convenience and comfort it is to have

all of our physicians under one roof.” ~Lindsay Iwan, Practice Manager

“In order to accommodate the residents and their patients, we’re expanding and renovating the building,” said Lindsay Iwan, Practice Manager. “Construction won’t ‘officially’ be complete until the fall, but our patients and staff can already see what a convenience and comfort it is to have all of our physicians under one roof.”

The new, spacious location at 4 Longmeadow Village Drive will assist the practice in welcoming the four residents. They are part of Lakeland HealthCare’s new Family Medicine Residency Program, and they will join John Howard, MD, Rosa Johnson, DO, Douglas Tacket, DO, Tracy Tacket, DO, and Ellen Tambunan, MD.

The residents will complete their medical training over the next three years in both clinical and classroom settings and will be responsible for direct patient care while working in collaboration with an attending physician. Dr. Douglas Tacket will oversee the residents, serving as Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program.

“We’re excited to offer additional options to our patients in terms of choosing the right primary care physician,” Linsay said. “If you or someone you know is looking for a primary care provider, physicians at Lakeland Family Medicine, Niles are accepting new adult and pediatric patients.”

Schedule your wellness exam today and get to know your numbers! For more information or to schedule an appointment with any of these physicians, call (269) 684-6000.

Important Survey ReminderHelp Make Lakeland Great!

Randomly-selected associates and physicians will receive an invitation via email on July 17 to participate in a survey conducted by Great Place to Work® Institute. The results will be used to determine the 2013 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list.

Great Place to Work® Institute requires a minimum number of completed surveys back from our associates. Therefore, it is important that you respond openly and honestly.

The email invitation will include a unique link and password, which will allow you to access the survey. The email subject line will be ‘100 Best Companies to Work For, ‘ and it will be sent from the following name and email address: ‘Survey Administrator’ at US_survey@greatplacetowork.com. Our survey will be available in both English and Spanish.

Please be honest and candid in your responses. To protect your anonymity, the Institute will not share any personal information that could be used to identify you.

To be included in the results, please complete the survey on or before July 31, 2012.

Lift Your Spirits Support Hospice at Home

Join our friends from Hospice at Home for a unique fundraising event that’s sure to lift your spirits. Get your tickets now for the sixth annual Wine & Beer Tasting on Saturday, July 28, at 6:00 p.m. in South Haven.

Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Michigan from the Bluff of South Beach at the home a generous local family. Fine wines and specialty beers will be available for sampling – many from local breweries. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided as well as a silent auction and raffle.

“Most of us remember a special person who was there for us at a difficult time,” said Beth Fones, Volunteer Coordinator for Hospice at Home. “This event is a time to celebrate those who provide support and compassion at the end of life. It also helps us continue these services for those in need.”

Wine & Beer Tasting tickets are available for $50 per person at all Hospice at Home offices, the South Haven Visitors Bureau, and Wolverine Hardware, or online at www.hospiceathomecares.org.

For more information, please call (269) 637-3825 or (800) 717-3811.

(L-R): Christine Zender, DO; Kamil Krukowski, DO; Adam Mitchell, DO; Ashley Lepak, DO.Ashley Lepak, DO.

Wednesday, July 18~ ConnectCare Innovation Center, St. Joseph Cinema Conference Room 3:00 p.m.

~ Hospice at Home, St. Joseph Community Room 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 19~ Lakeland at Meadowbrook, Benton Harbor Meadowbrook Conference Center 8:00 a.m. 8:45 a.m.

~ Lakeland Continuing Care Center, St. Joseph Resident Dining Room 9:00 a.m.

~ Center for Outpatient Services, St. Joseph Deli Area 2:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Friday, July 20~ Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center*

Gardenview Room 7:30 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m.

*Sessions broadcast to Niles and St. Joseph

~ Lakeland Community Hospital, Watervliet Community Education Classroom B 10:00 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

Monday, July 23~ Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles*

Large Meeting Room 7:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m.

*Sessions broadcast to St.Joseph and Berrien Center

Tuesday, July 24~ Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Frederick S. Upton Education Center Rooms 5 and 6 7:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 9:45 p.m. 10:30 p.m. *Sessions broadcast to Niles and Watervliet

July web-based eForums

viewing availablethrough NetLearning

lakelandhealth.org

Employee Assistance Program – Newsletter

THE GOLDEN CHAIN By: Raelene Stickney “Sleep is the golden chain that ties our health and bodies together.”

Thomas Dekker

Did you know that the quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of your waking life? Walking around tired has become a badge of honor in our hectic lives as we replace resting with “more productive” activities. Unknowingly, we may be sacrificing some amazing benefits.

Mood—Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania report that people who sleep less than five hours a night for seven nights felt stressed, angry, sad and mentally exhausted. Over time, lack of sleep can contribute to symptoms of depression. Insomnia and depression feed on each other. Sleep loss aggravates symptoms of depression and can make it more difficult to fall asleep.

Appearance—Chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines and dark circles under the eyes. The stress hormone, Cortisol, is released by the body when you don’t get enough sleep. Cortisol breaks down collagen, which is the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic. Weight gain can also be a result. Not only does sleep loss appear to stimulate appetite, but it also stimulates cravings for high-fat and high carbohydrate foods.

Mental Acuity—During REM sleep, your brain consolidates and processes information learned during the day, forms neural

SUMMER 2012

connections that strengthen memory, and replenishes neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Although you may think you have “adjusted to sleeping six hours a night,” test results show that mental alertness, creativity, and problem-solving skills can go downhill without your awareness.

Libido—Sleep deprived men and women report lower sexual desire. Depleted energy and increased tension may be to blame. Men with sleep apnea have been shown to have lower testosterone levels.

Health—Deep sleep is a time when the body repairs itself, builds up energy for the day ahead, and fortifies the immune system. Sleep disorders and chronic sleep loss can put you at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.

There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on and the amount you need to function at your best. It’s been said that no other activity delivers so many benefits with so little effort. Are you cranky, sluggish, and forgetful? A few more Z’s may be the fix!

NEVER TOO OLD FOR MARBLES

Employee Assistance Program – Newsletter

By: Raelene Stickney

The American Psychological Association conducted a “Stress in the Workplace” survey in January 2012. The findings concluded that employees who felt valued were more likely to report better physical and mental health, as well as higher levels of engagement, satisfaction, and motivation compared to those that did not feel valued. Expressing appreciation is not a matter of position or location. Although it’s great to be acknowledged by a supervisor, anyone can give a well-deserved compliment or sincere thank you. Often, co-workers can give more timely, specific, and meaningful feedback by virtue of their proximity and relationship. One man would take five marbles to work with him each day in his right pocket. He would look for someone to compliment. When he gave a compliment, he transferred a marble to his left pocket. His goal was to leave with all five marbles in his left pocket. After time, he didn’t even need to bring the marbles. The habit had become ingrained. It’s been said that we all wear an invisible sign that says, “Make Me Feel Important.” Think about a time at work that you really felt valued. Or, think about the best compliment you ever received. How can you help replicate these situations for a co-worker? Your efforts will not only help others do their best work, but you’ll be rewarded with a warm glow as well.

MONEY SAVING TIPS

From: www.fueleconomy.gov

1. Slow Down—While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed, gas mileage rapidly decreases at speeds over 50 mph. For every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph, it’s like paying an extra $.26 per gallon for gas.

2. Lighten Up—An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle can reduce mpg by up to 2%. Remove excessive weight. (The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight. Weight affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.)

3. Take It Easy—Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and breaking) wastes gas. It can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5% around town.

4. Check the Tires—Tires that are properly inflated and aligned can increase gas mileage up to 3%, improve handling, and prolong the life of the tires.

5. Selecting the Car—Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you’ll make. The difference between getting 20 mpg and 30 mpg can mean a savings of about $938.00 a year (based on driving 15,000 miles and fuel cost of $3.75). The above referenced website has gas-mileage estimates and more information for car models from1984-2013. Just click on “Find and Compare Cars”.