Exceptional Experiences at Community Health Network

On May 6th, 2009, Dr. Dave Hertz, Community North Hospital NICU Medical Director, will be presenting Pediatric Grand Rounds, “The Late Preterm Infant”. Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of late pre-term infant deliveries.  Although many perceive these children to do well, recent studies indicate that these children have more medical issues than previously thought. Dr Hertz will take us through some of the problems these children encounter.

Pediatric grand rounds are generally provided monthly and are eligible for CME. We provide these offerings on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 a.m., in the multi-service conference rooms on the 3rd floor of the professional building. Coffee will be served.

If you have any questions about this, you can contact Dr. Robert Lindeman at Community North’s pediatric unit at 317-621-5474.

Dissolvable tobacco, made from finely milled tobacco and food grade binders, in the form of strips is being marketed in Indiana. These products will be sold in child resistant packaging, but resemble candy or breath-mints. Each strip contains 60% to 300% of a single cigarettes nicotine dose. If a child were to ingest multiple strips, this could certainly pose a health hazard with symptoms ranging from pallor, tremor, diaphoresis, and emesis to bradycardia and hypotension, possibly even seizures and coma.

Another concern is the teenage populations’ surreptitious use of smokeless tobacco, as the dissolvable strips do not leave odor on clothes or cause smokers-breath. Parents should be made aware that this product poses an increased risk to children, whether by accidental ingestion in younger children or in the form of tobacco abuse in teenagers.

I recently had the opportunity to work on a video for Community Health Network’s Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers. Nancy Lewark and Josh Blanchard talked about what they love about their work, and gave an overview of services offered at Community’s nine Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers. Take a look!

Pediatric occupational therapists can help children of all ages. Once a physician refers a child to occupational therapy, a registered occupational therapist will perform an evaluation. This evaluation will include a history, physical assessment and developmental assessment. Things like range of motion, strength, fine motor coordination and functional status of daily activities (such as handwriting, dressing, bathing or feeding). After the evaluation, the therapist will discuss a child’s treatment plan with the parent/guardian and child and explain the expected frequency and duration of therapy sessions. Each child’s treatment plan is specifically designed to address their unique deficits. Subsequent therapy visits may include activities to increase upper body and fine motor strength and coordination, training for independence in activities of daily living, home exercise instruction for strengthening and sensory integration. Regular updates are sent to the referring physician and goals may be changed or updated based on the child’s progress. Visit our web page to learn more about the pediatric therapy services offered through Community Rehab & Sports Medicine Centers.

The Community Health Network Board of Directors is proud to announce the selection of Bryan Mills as the new president and CEO-elect of the network, which includes five hospitals and more than 70 sites of care across central Indiana. In this role, Mills, 48, will work closely with Community Health Network’s CEO, William Corley, in developing a seamless transition plan that will guide Community in its continuing pursuit of best global practices in health care quality and safety, and that will ensure Community continues to deliver exceptional experiences to patients and families, physicians and employees. Mills, who officially begins his new position as president and CEO-elect on May 1, will become Community’s CEO when Corley retires later this year.

“I am excited about Bryan’s appointment to this position,” said Corley. “He is an exceptional leader and will serve Community well in the years to come. I look forward to working with him to ensure a smooth transition.”

Mills was named president and CEO-elect following an extensive nationwide and internal search that began last year after Corley announced his pending retirement. Mills has been employed by Community Health Network for 24 years. Most recently, he served as CEO of Visionary Enterprises, Inc. (VEI), a for-profit affiliate of Community Health Network that develops and manages health care ventures with physicians and hospitals.

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