Help Tell the Story of Healthcare in Our Community

YRMC’s 75^th anniversary celebration theme “Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow” highlights the meaning of community-based, not-for-profit healthcare. YRMC is giving people the opportunity to join this conversation by sharing anecdotes from their lives that involve the hospital.

Video interviews, stories and images are being gathered for the YRMC Memory Catcher project. Visit YRMC HealthConnect (yrmchealthconnect.org/memory-catcher) to explore YRMC’s history as told by the community. The Memory Catcher project features familiar people, including for example:

• Jean Phillips, Community Volunteer
• Elisabeth Ruffner, Community Volunteer
• The Olsen and Sischka Family, Business and Community Leaders
• Harvey Skoog, Mayor of Prescott Valley
• JC Trujillo, General Manager of Prescott Frontier Days and Bareback World Championship Rider

“Memory Catcher visitors also will meet folks who have grown up in the community or are new to the area. They have wonderful, interesting and amusing stories to share,” said Ken Boush, Director of Marketing and Communications at YRMC. “All of these anecdotes create a tapestry that tell the story of YRMC and its 75-year relationship with the community. We’re encouraging people throughout our community to share their stories.”

Find YRMC online at yrmc.org and yrmchealthconnect.org. Follow YRMC on social media at:

Twitter

• https://twitter.com/yrmcquadcities

Facebook

• www.facebook.com/YavapaiRegionalMedicalCenter
• www.facebook.com/PonderosaPediatrics
• www.facebook.com/YRMCyourhealthykitchen

YouTube

• www.youtube.com/channel/UCZGC2lYqCa4FaM8EWhuK9_g

 

A great communicator … kind, courteous and committed to patient safety … a terrific patient advocate. These are phrases Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) employees and Medical Staff use to describe Jay Goswick, D.O., an accomplished Anesthesiologist and YRMC’s 2017 Physician of the Year.

“I am honored to be included with the distinguished prior recipients of this award. Receiving recognition by one’s coworkers for being a small part of the Total Healing Environment at YRMC is very humbling,” states Dr. Goswick. “The efforts of so many make the work we do possible. I want to thank all of them for their continued service to our community.”

 YRMC’s Total Healing Environment Physician of the Year is selected annually by YRMC employees and Medical Staff and presented to a Physician who:

• Provides excellent patient care.
• Is sensitive to the needs and desires of patients.
• Emulates positive relationships with employees and volunteers.
• Is a team player and shows respect to everyone with whom he or she comes into contact.
• Takes pride in YRMC and the community.

“We had an overwhelming number of excellent nominees for our 2017 Total Healing Environment Physician of the Year, which tells you a lot about the quality of our medical staff,” states John Amos, President and CEO, Yavapai Regional Medical Center. “Dr. Goswick is very deserving of this honor. The kindness and respect he demonstrates to everyone he comes into contact with is an inspiration to all of us. He takes extraordinary pride in the quality of his work and is a valued ambassador for our five values of Respect, Integrity, Quality, Commitment and Accountability. We are proud to honor such an exceptional person and physician.”

 Dr. Goswick joined YRMC’s Medical Staff in 2006. He completed his medical degree at Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa, and completed his Anesthesia Residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Dr. Goswick serves on the YRMC Surgical Care Review Committee and is the coordinator for medical student rotations through the Anesthesia Department. Dr. Goswick is also an integral member of the surgical team at the James Family Heart Center, having provided anesthesia care for open heart patients since the inception of the program in 2007. 

Do you have a memory or experience that in some way involves Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC)? The recent birth of a child … a caring nurse or other healthcare provider you remember from YRMC … an experience that included YRMC that was meaningful to you? YRMC is collecting these memories for its 75^th anniversary celebration through the recently launched Memory Catcher Project at YRMC HealthConnect (yrmchealthconnect.org/memory-catcher).

“I can’t think of a better way for a community-based healthcare provider to celebrate a 75^th anniversary,” said John Amos, YRMC’s President and CEO. “YRMC was established by people who wanted local healthcare. YRMC’s Memory Catcher Project celebrates the unique relationship between YRMC and the community.”

YRMC’s Memory Catcher Project connects people from throughout our community to share memories that involve YRMC and western Yavapai County.

Here’s how YRMC’s Memory Catcher Project works:

• Visit YRMC’s Memory Catcher Project (yrmchealthconnect.org/memory-catcher).
• Complete the fields – name, email and phone number – so a member of YRMC’s Community Outreach team can contact you after you’ve submitted a memory.
• Provide the highlights of your memory in 200 words or less in the field marked “Share Your Memory.” (Perfect writing isn’t required.)
• Add any photos you would like to submit with your memory.
• Click “Submit Memory” when all of the fields are complete.
• Look for an autoreply in your email box that confirms YRMC received your memory.

If your memory is selected from the up to 75 being gathering for 2018, a member of YRMC’s Community Outreach team will contact you to learn more and to create a Memory Catcher story for YRMC HealthConnect. You’ll have the opportunity to provide photos that will be scanned and returned to you. And, if you’re interested, YRMC may even schedule a short video to record your memory for YRMC HealthConnect.

Want to read a Memory Catcher story? Visit yrmchealthconnect.org/memory-catcher to read about:

• A Prescott writer born in 1943 at YRMC – then called Prescott Community Hospital – who discovered the receipt from his delivery at the hospital in the attic of his mother’s home.
• How a hospitalization in 1974 triggered a childhood memory of growing up during the era of polio for a Prescott resident.

“We hope lots of people will share their stories and help celebrate the 75^th anniversary of their community’s healthcare provider,” said Amos.

Help is Here Thanks to YRMC’s New Vein Center

People who suffer from circulatory problems in their legs know the condition is painful, debilitating and complicated.

“Circulatory problems are very dangerous and limit how people live and enjoy their lives,” said Anil Kumar, MD, FACCP, RPVI, Medical Director of Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) Vein Center.

What causes these circulatory problems? A condition called chronic venous insufficiency is linked to circulatory problems in the legs. “Chronic venous insufficiency is a problem for millions of Americans and is the number one reason why people have hard-to-heal wounds on their lower extremities,” states Dr. Kumar. “YRMC’s new Vein Center is dedicated to addressing vein health and the complicated health problems associated with these vein-related circulatory problems.”

Dr. Kumar is uniquely qualified to lead YRMC’s Vein Center. He is Board Certified in Vascular Medicine and in therapies to improve circulation in the veins. He is also a Diplomate for the Society of Vascular Medicine and a member of the American College of Phlebology, the professional society for physicians who treat vein disorders.

Dr. Kumar and YRMC’s Vein Center staff partner with experts from YRMC’s Wound Care program to help people with hard-to-heal leg ulcers and wounds – a result of poor circulation. If the patient needs it, an Infectious Disease physician is available for consultation and treatment. The Vein Center also works with YRMC’s Diabetes Education program – recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education – to help patients better manage diabetes, another reason for poor circulation in the veins.

YRMC’s new Vein Center is located at:

YRMC Del E. Webb Outpatient Center
3262 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, Arizona 86314
(928) 759-5890

“YRMC’s Mission is to offer advanced medical care that meets the needs of the communities we serve,” said Anthony V. Torres, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer at YRMC. “We know many of our residents suffer from chronic, painful and dangerous venous circulation problems in their legs. The Vein Center provides a family of solutions to address these circulatory issues. We’re here to help people throughout our region who are living with this complicated malady.”

Treatment at YRMC’s Vein Center begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment followed by a dedicated ultrasound study to identify venous reflux issues and to rule-out deep vein blood clots.  

Depending on the results of the ultrasound, Dr. Kumar may recommend conservative treatments that include:

• Wearing compression stockings
• Elevating feet at prescribed levels
• Avoiding “dangling legs” in what are called dependent positions
• Calf muscle exercises

If there is no improvement in the circulation following these conservative therapies, Dr. Kumar may prescribe additional minimally-invasive office-based treatments that include venous ablation, sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy.

 “Together, YRMC’s Vein Center and Advanced Wound Care teams provide the synergy needed to help people with circulatory issues and non-healing wounds,” Dr. Torres said. “Our approach is designed to help patients with non-healing wounds avoid debilitating amputation.”

For more information, talk to your primary care physician or contact the Vein Center at (928) 759-5890.

Most Wired Hospitals Use Technology to Partner with Patients on Health

Technology is making it easier for patients and providers to interact, thus improving communication, safety and patient-provider relationships. New tools are helping patients become more actively involved in their care and maintaining their health, according to results of the 19^th Annual Health Care’s Most Wired® survey, released by the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Health Forum.

According to the survey, Most Wired hospitals are using smart phones, telehealth and remote monitoring to create more ways for patients to access health care services and capture health information. This year’s results show:

• 76 percent offer secure messaging with clinicians on mobile devices.
• When patients need ongoing monitoring at home, 74 percent use secure e-mails for patients and families to keep in touch with the care team.
• 68 percent simplify prescription renewals by letting patients make requests on mobile devices.
• 62 percent add data reported by patients to the electronic health record to get a better picture of what is going on with the patient.
• Nearly half of the hospitals are using telehealth to provide behavioral health services to more patients.
• 40 percent offer virtual physician visits.
• More than 40 percent provide real-time care management services to patients at home for diabetes and congestive heart failure.

“Being recognized as a Most Wired Hospital by the American Hospital Association is a special honor for Yavapai Regional Medical Center,” states YRMC Chief Information Officer Tim Roberts.  “Our employees and business partners deserve this recognition for the outstanding job they do every day to develop, deploy and utilize the latest technology to support patient care at YRMC.”

Most Wired hospitals are transforming care delivery with knowledge gained from data and analytics.  They are investing in analytics to support new delivery models and effective decision-making and training clinicians on how to use analytics to improve quality, provide access and control costs.

• 82 percent analyze retrospective clinical and administrative data to identify areas for improving quality and reducing the cost of care.
• Three-quarters use sophisticated analytics such as predictive modeling and data to improve decision-making.
• Nearly 70 percent interface electronic health record data with population health tools for care management.
• More than 70 percent are providing data analytic tools training to physicians and nurses.
• 45 percent initiate a patient pathway using health IT to follow a care plan.
• Nearly 40 percent deliver quality metrics to physicians at the point-of-care.
• 32 percent have tools for real-time patient identification and tracking for value-based care conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“The Most Wired hospitals are using every available technology option to create more ways to reach their patients in order to provide access to care,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “They are transforming care delivery, investing in new delivery models in order to improve quality, provide access and control costs.”

HealthCare’s Most Wired® survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2017, is published annually by Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN). The 2017 Most Wired® survey and benchmarking study is a leading industry barometer measuring information technology (IT) use and adoption among hospitals nationwide. The survey of 698 participants, representing an estimated 2,158 hospitals — more than 39 percent of all hospitals in the U.S. — examines how organizations are leveraging IT to improve performance for value-based health care in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management; quality and safety; and clinical integration. 

Detailed results of the survey and study can be found in the July issue of H&HN. For a full list of winners, visit www.hhnmag.com. 

About the Most Wired Survey

The 2017 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with the American Hospital Association and Clearwater Compliance, LLC.

About the American Hospital Association
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit www.aha.org.

About Health Forum

Health Forum is a strategic business enterprise of the American Hospital Association, creatively partnering to develop and deliver essential information and innovative services to help health care leaders achieve organizational performance excellence and sustainability. For more information, visit www.healthforum.com.

About Clearwater Compliance, LLC | 

Clearwater Compliance, LLC is a leading provider of healthcare compliance and cyber risk management solutions. Its mission is to empower hospitals and health systems to successfully manage healthcare’s evolving cybersecurity risks and ensure patient safety. Exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association, Clearwater solutions have been deployed within hundreds of hospitals and health systems, Fortune 100 organizations and federal government institutions. More information about Clearwater Compliance is at www.Clearwatercompliance.com.

Lung cancer can be cured if it’s discovered early

Current or past smokers who are worried about their risk for lung cancer now have lung cancer screening available at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC).

Lung Cancer Screening and Care – launched recently by YRMC – includes lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). These screenings produce detailed images of the lungs and may reveal extremely small nodules, an indication of lung cancer in its early stages.

“LDCT is for people before they begin to experience symptoms,” said Mary Sterling, Director of Imaging Services at YRMC. “Many lung cancers could be cured if they were discovered at this early stage.”

Sterling recommends speaking to your healthcare provider about LDCT if you have concerns about your smoking history and if you are:

• 55 to 77 years old
• A current smoker
• A former smoker who quit in the last 15 years
• Someone who has a smoking history of at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years

People whose first screening is clear will undergo another LDCT in 12 months. If an LDCT detects potential cancerous nodules, YRMC’s Lung Cancer Screening and Care provides comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and recovery services. The expert team – radiologists, pulmonologists, a procedural pulmonologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon – collaborate to ensure the best care plan for each person.

Lung Cancer Screening and Care at YRMC also includes a clinical navigator who is available to assist and support patients.

To find out if LDCT is right for you, speak to your physician. For information on Lung Cancer Screening and Care at YRMC call the clinical navigator at (928) 771-5454 or visit YRMC online at bit.ly/yrmc-lungcare.

LDCT is available at:

YRMC East
Imaging Services
7700 East Florentine Rd
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

Prescott Medical Imaging
810 Whipple Street
Prescott, AZ 86301

Prescott Valley Medical Imaging
7700 East Florentine Rd
Building B, Suite 105
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

Imaging technology that both measures how quickly a tumor is growing and pinpoints its exact location is now available to residents of Yavapai County at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) East in Prescott Valley.

"This is the most advanced imaging technology of its kind available,” said Mary Sterling, YRMC’s Director of Imaging Services.

The “Time-of-Flight” (TOF) technology, as it’s called, combines Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) in a single imaging unit. The job of the PET scan is to detect molecular activity within the body for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. The CT scan precisely locates the cancer.

A remodeled area adjacent to Imaging Services on the first floor of YRMC East in Prescott Valley is home to the new PET/CT unit. It includes a room with comfortable chairs and blankets, where patients can relax before their examinations.

“PET is a nuclear medicine procedure,” said Sterling. “This means patients receive a small amount of radiation called a radioisotope before exams. They need a comfortable place to relax for an hour before the procedure. This helps us to get the best scan possible.”

During its first year at YRMC East, the PET-CT technology will be used to:

• Diagnose and stage all types of cancers.
• Monitor treatment progress in patients who have undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

To learn more about YRMC’s comprehensive imaging program, visit us online at:

• YRMC Imaging Services www.yrmc.org/services/imaging-services
• The BreastCare Center at YRMC www.yrmc.org/services/breastcare-center
• Prescott Medical Imaging and Prescott Valley Medical Imaging www.hometownradiology.org

The Yavapai Community Hospital Association, which does business and operates as Yavapai Regional Medical Center, will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, April 27, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Spruce Room on the Campus of YRMC West in Prescott. The public is invited to attend.

The purpose of YRMC’s annual meeting is to summarize the hospital’s achievements during the previous calendar year.

• Greg Lazzell will present the Council of Electors’ Report and will Introduce New and Reappointed Trustees.
• Paula Kneisl will present the Chairman of the Board of Trustees’ Report.
• Larry Owens, MD, Chief of Staff, will present the President of the Medical Staff’s Report.
• Nancy Thomes will present the Director of Volunteers’ Report.
• John Amos will present the President and Chief Executive Officer’s Report.
• In addition, two Yavapai Community Hospital Association members will be elected to one-year terms on the Council of Electors.

Copies of YRMC’s 2016 Annual Report will be presented to members of the Board of Trustees and made available to members of the public.

For more information on Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s annual meeting, contact the Administration Office at (928) 771-5676.

Previously, only permanently placed metal stents were available. The bioresorbable stent is made to disappear completely in approximately three years, after it has done its job of keeping a clogged artery open and promoting healing of the treated artery segment.

Heart specialists will continue using permanent metal stents to open obstructed arteries. However, for people with certain kinds of heart disease, and whose bodies metabolize cholesterol differently, the bioresorbable stent provides another option. This is welcome news for many Arizonans as the American Heart Association ranks heart disease as the second leading cause of death in the state.

Want to find out if you’re eligible for the bioresorbable stent? Ask your primary care physician or cardiologist. If you don’t have a physician, contact the YRMC Physician Referral Service at (928) 771-5106, visit us online (www.yrmc.org/find-a-doctor) or contact the outstanding cardiologists at YRMC PhysicianCare Cardiology (www.yrmcpc.org) in one of our two Prescott locations – (928) 445-6025 or (928) 778-0309 – or our Prescott Valley location at (928) 442-8117.

Find YRMC online at www.yrmc.org and connect with us on social media.

Twitter

• https://twitter.com/YRMCquadcities

Facebook

• www.facebook.com/YavapaiRegionalMedicalCenter
• www.facebook.com/PonderosaPediatrics

YouTube

www.youtube.com/channel/UCZGC2lYqCa4FaM8EWhuK9_g

Who is eligible for TAVR? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently recommends TAVR for people considered too high risk for traditional valve replacement surgery. For that reason, most TAVR candidates are in their 70s or 80s and often have other complicating medical conditions, such as diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“Eventually, TAVR likely will be expanded to include people considered less high risk,” Dr. Tibi said.

The introduction of TAVR at The James Family Heart Center is supported by an expansion of YRMC’s Heart Program. Over the past several years, YRMC PhysicianCare Cardiology has grown to include a cardiac electrophysiologist and three new cardiologists.

“I’m impressed by the quality of physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers in our Heart Program,” said Dr. Tibi, who moved to the Prescott area from Phoenix in 2009 to help establish The James Family Heart Center. “I’ve watched the development of heart programs throughout Arizona for years. YRMC’s is the most stable and steadily growing program that’s been started in the past 15 years.”

For more information about TAVR at YRMC visit www.yrmc.org/services/james-family-heart-center/faqs

# # #

Follow YRMC at www.yrmc.org and www.yrmchealthconnect.org or on social media at:

Twitter:  twitter.com/YRMCquadcities

Facebook: facebook.com/YavapaiRegionalMedicalCenter

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCZGC2lYqCa4FaM8EWhuK9_g