CAMC Today is a publication of CAMC Health System

Inside this issueCAMC now offers a powerful new technology in the fight against prostate cancer: prostate MRI…Page 2

CAMC is dedicated to providing specialized services for the youngest and most vulnerable patients…Page 2

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among West Virginia residents. Check out a new screening program that helps with earlier detection…Page 3

He’s worked with professional athletes. Now an orthopedic surgeon is bringing that pro-level sports medicine expertise home to West Virginia…Page 3

THE CUTTING EDGENo medication. No surgery. Read about a unique treatment for back and neck pain…Page 4

CAMC joins a national hospital alliance to bring comprehensive cardiac care to women…Page 4

The World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and World Cup are some of the professional championships athletes compete for each year.

It’s a big deal to win any of them. It’s an even bigger deal to win in consecutive years. What about a “three-peat?”

The CAMC Health System has been recognized as one of the top performing hospitals in the country for three straight years by different organizations.

Most recently, the CAMC Health System was one of only four companies in the United States to win the 2015 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

“This puts us in the top echelon of quality across ALL industries in the country,” said David Ramsey, CAMC president and CEO. “This is not just another quality award. This is the most prestigious quality award in the nation.”

Receiving the Baldrige Award comes on the heels of CAMC twice being named among the nation’s top 5 percent of hospitals for overall clinical excellence. This accolade is determined through an independent study of mortality and complication rates for nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide as released by Healthgrades, the nation’s leading health care ratings company.

The Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987. It is not given for specific products or services. Since the first group was recognized in 1988, 109 awards have been presented to 102 organizations (including seven repeat recipients) throughout the country.

If you find yourself making the same resolution to lose the same 20 or 30 pounds year after year with no success, you may need more than willpower to help tip the scales in your favor.

CAMC is one of the first hospitals in the country to offer a new, non-surgical weight loss procedure for adults living with moderate obesity who want to lose weight but may not want, or qualify for, more drastic measures like surgery. It’s called the ORBERA™ Intragastric Balloon and Weight Loss System.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ORBERA™ is a soft balloon that fills part of the stomach. In a non-surgical (endoscopic) procedure performed under a mild sedative, a small, deflated balloon is inserted into the stomach through the mouth, and then filled with saline until reaching approximately the size of a grapefruit. The procedure takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and patients usually go home the same day.

ORBERA™ combines the portion-controlling benefits of the balloon with comprehensive guidance and support from the CAMC Weight Loss Center’s dietitians, psychologist and exercise physiologist to help patients lose weight and keep it off.

“The average weight loss is 20 to 40 pounds,” said Robert Shin, MD, FACS, bariatric surgeon and director of the CAMC Weight Loss Center.

Most weight loss typically occurs in the first three months after the balloon is inserted. On average, patients using the non-surgical balloon lose more than three times the weight than people who used diet and exercise alone.

“While you typically lose weight quickly after the procedure, it is not a cure-all, quick fix because keeping the weight off is the goal,” Shin said. “That’s why we work with patients

In addition to CAMC Health System, the 2015 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipients are MidwayUSA in Columbia, Missouri, Charter School of San Diego and Mid-America Transplant Services in St. Louis.

“This year’s Baldrige Award honorees have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving their performance in all facets of their organizations, and they have served as role models for others to follow,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. “As America’s Innovation Agency, the Commerce Department is honored to support innovators and job creators who power our economy and help keep America open for business.”

According to the news release, “the honorees are recognized for their outstanding commitment to sustainable excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership.”

during the six months the balloon is in place and for an additional six months after it is removed to help them develop realistic, healthy eating and exercise habits to ensure long-term success.

Having the right expectations and making a commitment to continue with lifestyle modifications are the key components for doing well.”

Following an initial consultation to determine if you are a candidate for ORBERA™, the procedure can be performed in a few weeks.

Shin, along with Samuel Rossi, MD, are among a small group of surgeons in the country trained to perform the procedure.

“Although this device is new to the United States, ORBERA™ has been around for 20 years,” Shin said. “More than 220,000 balloons have been distributed worldwide in over 80 countries, with approximately 230

published reports documenting its clinical results. It is a proven, innovative solution to help fight the obesity epidemic.”

The non-surgical weight loss balloon fills a treatment gap that exists for adults who are not appropriate for or not considering surgery, but for whom diet and exercise, or pharmaceutical interventions, have not worked. It gives them access to a non-invasive option for moderate obesity (those with a body mass index between 30 and 40), addressing a critical and growing health issue.

“In West Virginia we’re number one, two or three in terms of many health concerns, and obesity is no exception,” Shin said. “Nearly 40 percent of West Virginians are obese, not just overweight, which translates to 50 to 80 pounds of excess weight.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity affects more than 78 million U.S. adults and is one of

“We’ve said all along: it’s about the journey,” said Glenn Crotty Jr., MD, CAMC chief operating officer. “Winning the award is great. We’ve learned so much and continue to improve making CAMC a top quality, high performing organization.”

The 2015 Baldrige Award will be presented at an April 2016 ceremony during the Quest for Excellence conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

Since the November announcement about the Baldrige Award, the organization has received congratulatory emails and phone calls from around the country. Additionally, there have been requests for representatives to visit corporations and for companies to visit the CAMC Health System to study its successes.

Did you know?Services at CAMC include a Level 1 Trauma Center, top-level neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, West Virginia’s only kidney transplant center and the state’s only freestanding women and children’s hospital.

CAMC operates with revenue of $956 million annually.

CAMC has a workforce of nearly 7,000 employees and more than 300 volunteers.

Nearly 800 physicians are members of CAMC’s medical staff.

Annual community benefit is more than $115 million.

CAMC achieved top 10 percent status for patient safety in 2013 and 2014, according to the patient safety indicator composite from the federal government’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

According to the Comparion Medical Analytics national database, CAMC ranked in the top 10 percent nationally for best care and lowest mortality for trauma/orthopedic patients in 2012 and 2013 (the latest data available).

Based on Premier data, CAMC has outperformed the top 25 percent of hospitals nationally in avoiding unnecessary readmissions, consistently lowering its rate of readmissions since 2011.

Since 2010, CAMC’s employee turnover rate has been better than the U.S. benchmark set by Nursing Solutions Inc., a national hospital staffing service.

As West Virginia’s largest provider of uncompensated care, CAMC exceeds local and national benchmarks for such activity.

January 12, 2016

Continued on page 4

Innovation and excellence

CAMC among the first in U.S. to offer new, non-surgical weight loss procedure

be present with information about their programs in many fields of study.

If you are graduating high school and interested in careers in the health care career setting, this event has much to offer.

As one of the largest employers in West Virginia, CAMC will showcase the many health care careers in fields such as nursing, medical, respiratory, clinical laboratory sciences, therapies, imaging, professional, technical, service, support, clerical, administrative and more.

Join us as we showcase CAMC career opportunities!

SAVE THE DATESaturday, April, 9

CAMC Health Care Career Showcase

Charleston Civic Center

Open to anyone interested in a career in health care

CAMC staff will assist you with your exploration for career opportunities within CAMC’s hospitals. In addition, West Virginia higher education school representatives will

QJan 2016TC.indd 1 12/16/15 2:11 PM

2 camc.org

Published by CAMC Marketing & Public AffairsElizabeth Pellegrin EditorDale Witte Jessica Duffield Editors/WritersTony Campbell Graphic Designer

Julia Noland Ashley ShowenLindsey LillyScott JarrellWriters

CAMC now offers a powerful new technology in the fight against prostate cancer: prostate MRI.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a strong magnetic field instead of X-rays to provide clear, detailed pictures of internal organs like the prostate gland. It can detect lesions in the prostate that may be cancerous, which allows doctors to guide biopsies with unprecedented precision. It also provides a higher level of care for many patients with elevated and/or rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels – a known indicator for prostate cancer.

Current diagnostic tools, including PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening, cannot distinguish aggressive, life-threatening prostate tumors from slow-growing tumors. As a result, urologists must either perform additional biopsies or monitor abnormal growths, which could result in prolonged diagnosis or delays in treatment.

“That’s what makes prostate MRI a game-changer: it allows us to target the biopsy exactly where cancer is located,” said James Tierney, DO, medical director, CAMC Physicians Group Urology. “Prostate MRI provides unique biological information that is just not available with other imaging methods.”

A cancer diagnosis not only affects the person with the disease—it impacts family and friends, as well. This is especially true when a child is dealing with the cancer diagnosis of a loved one.

Gigi’s Place, located in the new CAMC Cancer Center, is an area dedicated to the emotional and psychological well-being of children who have a loved one undergoing treatment or who have lost a parent to cancer. In this space children can interact with a licensed child psychologist in a quiet and safe environment that is welcoming, kid-friendly and supportive to each child’s individual needs. Children participate in crafts, artwork and other interactive activities to work through their grief, anger and confusion in a healthy way.

Gigi’s Place was created in honor of a young mother in the Charleston community who lost her battle with cancer and left behind a 4-year-old daughter, Gigi. Her dying wish was to provide a place for children to go to work through the grief of losing a parent to cancer. After her death, the family worked with the CAMC Foundation to make her dream a reality.

Cancer treatment is a long, difficult battle, and takes a major physical and emotional toll on the patient. It can be hard for children to understand why a parent or caregiver can no longer do the same things they did before treatment, like taking them to school, attending extracurricular activities, or playing outside. The child psychologist at Gigi’s Place helps children understand the changes going on in their lives and gives them tools to manage the “new normal.”

Home to the only freestanding women and children’s hospital in the state, CAMC is dedicated to providing specialized services that are vital to the health and well-being of our community.

From the specially-trained physicians and staff to the customized pediatric equipment, the goal is to provide the most comprehensive, specialized care available to our young patients.

Advocating for childrenThe campus of Women and Children’s Hospital is home to the Children’s Advocacy Center, providing professional and compassionate care to children who are possible victims of child abuse. The center provides comprehensive care to pediatric patients and their families, conducting forensic interviews, performing complete medical evaluations and providing case management and advocacy services. In 2014, the center saw more than 500 patients.

Joan Phillips, MD, and Sharon Istfan, MD, are the only two pediatricians in West Virginia board-certified in child abuse pediatrics, a subspecialty that was recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics beginning in 2009. Phillips’ and Istfan’s specialized training provides them with a solid foundation of the intricacies of working with a pediatric patient that was potentially the victim of child abuse.

The benefit of having Istfan and Phillips at the Children’s Advocacy Center is that they can coordinate a multidisciplinary approach to caring for a child who is a suspected victim of abuse.

“It’s a matter of making sure the child’s needs are met, so that everyone involved in the child’s care knows what’s going on and what the plan of action is, whether it be Child Protective Services, other physicians or law enforcement,” Phillips said.

Pediatric specialistsCAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston, provides surgical and medical pediatric specialists providing care in nearly 30 different specialties. By providing these unique services, Women and Children’s Hospital ensures patients can be treated for a wide variety of diseases and conditions close to home.

One of the many specialties is hematology/oncology. The Children’s Cancer Center, located on the first floor of CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, provides infusions of chemotherapy and other drugs to hematology/oncology patients, as well as infusion services for patients with other illnesses. These include blood or genetic disorders, gastrointestinal, immune and endocrine disorders.

Helping children cope with a loved one’s diagnosis of cancerCancer treatment can be a long, difficult battle, taking an emotional toll on family members especially children. It may be hard for them to understand why a loved one can no longer do the same things they did before treatment.

At Gigi’s Place, in the cancer center, a child psychologist helps children understand and manage the changes going on in their lives. Children participate in crafts, artwork and other interactive activities to work through their grief, anger and confusion in a healthy way.

To learn more about the services provided to pediatric patients, visit camc.org.

Each year, Women and Children’s Hospital collaborates with Coventry Health Care to host the Teddy Bear Fair, an event aimed to help children learn about the hospital in a fun way. Attendees receive a teddy bear and can visit different booths representing the many departments and services of the hospital. Children can get a finger cast, try on the vibrating vest used in respiratory therapy, get sized for and receive a free bicycle helmet and much more.

3415 MacCorkle Ave. SE, Charleston, WVSaturday, March 12

8 a.m. to Noon

Free screenings and health informationMinimal fee for blood work

Walk-ins only; no registration necessaryCall (304) 388-8612 for more information

SCREENINGS• Freelungcancerriskassessment

(ages 55-74) Anyone meeting the criteria for a low dose

computed tomography (CT) scan will be given information on obtaining an order for the test to be scheduled on another day.

• Freecolorectalscreeningforcoloncancer(ages 50+)

In-home collection kit with free return postage

BLOOD WORK (ages 18 and older, requires fasting) • ProstateSpecificAntigen(PSA):$15• ComprehensiveMetabolicPanel(CMP):$6• LipidPanel:$5• CBC:$5• HemoglobinA1c:$5• ThyroidStimulatingHormone(TSH): $5

There are countless benefits to walking and staying active. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, every minute of walking can extend your life by 1.5 to two minutes. Walking also can help you lose body fat and avoid heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.

To encourage walking as part of an active lifestyle, CAMC co-sponsors the “Walk of the Town” Mall Walkers Club with the Charleston Town Center (CTC) mall. Each month, CAMC provides a guest speaker to discuss relevant topics for the group. Past speakers have included experts from nutrition services, physical therapy, diabetes education and Medicare Advantage.

Mall Walkers meeting dates and topics:• Jan.19–BecomingaVolunteer• Feb.16–WomenandHeartDisease• March15-Hearing• April19-Memory• May17–Urology

All meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. and are located in Center Court of the Charleston Town Center. Refreshments and door prizes are provided by the CTC.

For more information, call the CTC Marketing Department at (304) 345-9526 or visit charlestontowncenter.com.

“WalkoftheTown”MallWalkersclub

EDUCATION• Breasthealth• Obesity/Exercise/HealthyStepsprogram• Gynecology(cervicalandovariancancer)• Alcoholconsumption• Healthydiet• Sunlightexposure:checkyourskininour

skin analyzer• Tobaccocessation• Geneticscounselingforcancer

ADDITIONAL SERVICES• Healthcarecoverageoptions• Radiationoncology• AdvancedMedicalDirectives• Behaviorhealth• Pharmacy• Boutique

Cancer Screening and Prevention Day at the CAMC Cancer Center

For patients, the only added step to the prostate exam is to have a non-invasive MRI scan before the biopsy. CAMC uses a sophisticated new digital imaging system called DynaCAD that allows physicians to perform MRI scans of the prostate using 3T MRI, which is the most powerful type of MRI scan.

“Radiologists mark any abnormal areas on the MRI, then urologists use that image to biopsy those specific areas,” Tierney said.

Because prostate MRI reduces the number of tissue samples required during a biopsy, the risk of infection, bleeding, pain and recovery time is also significantly reduced.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer, other than skin cancer, in American men, and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men.

“With the growing prevalence of prostate cancer, this test can make all the difference in finding and treating cancer earlier,” Tierney said.

For more information, call the CAMC Physicians Group Urology practice at (304) 388-1900.

“It’s a way to help them through the chaos of cancer, as we call it,” said Jocelyn Burum, PsyD, child psychologist who sees the children at Gigi’s Place. “It’s a place they can come and have some time that’s just about them for a little while. We can offer coping skills and it’s just a safe place for them to come and talk about how they’re feeling.”

Burum’s goal is to eventually start group therapy so children can meet and talk about their similar experiences.

For more information about Gigi’s Place and how you can help support it, call the CAMC Foundation at (304) 388-9860.

CAMC using MRI to find prostate cancer quicker

Gigi’sPlaceisabeaconoflightforchildrenaffectedbycancer

CAMCcaresforsmallpatientsinbigways

Ann and Paul Moran

2016

QJan 2016TC.indd 2 12/16/15 2:11 PM

Challenged Sports honors2015Athleteof the YearFawn Washington, a double-amputee from Charleston who competes around the world in shot put, discus and javelin, has been honored as the 2015 West Virginia Challenged Athlete of the Year.

Washington was selected as the state’s top challenged athlete for her outstanding accomplishments in 2015, which included:

•Settingthreenewstaterecordsandplacingfirst in shot put, discus and javelin at the CAMC Challenged Sports/Mid-Atlantic Regional Games in Charleston

•SettingtheAmericanrecordfortheWomen’s F43 shot put at the Desert Challenge Games in Phoenix, Arizona

•Winninggoldinshotputanddiscusatthe United States Paralympic National Track & Field Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota

•Placingfirstandtakinghomethreegoldmedals at the Thunder in the Valley Games in Saginaw, Michigan

•FinishinginsixthplaceinF44/F43women’s shot put at the IPC World Championships in Doha, Qatar

Washington also served as a guest coach at the 31st Annual Coleman School of Basketball Camp in Weirton and she coaches students in track and field at Nitro and Capital high schools.

Washington says she is focused on her next goal: making the 2016 US Paralympic team.

“I’ve always had the Olympics on my bucket list,” Washington said. “I realized that by motivating myself to go for it, I’m helping others realize they can do the same thing.”

CAMC sponsors statewide sporting competitions for athletes of all ages with physical disabilities through its Para-Athletics program, which is the only organized, sanctioned sporting program for the physically challenged in West Virginia. The program offers year-round competitions in track and field, marksman, swimming, basketball, tennis, archery and golf.

For more information visit camc.org/ChallengedSports.

Neworthopedicsurgeonbringspro-level sports medicine expertisehometoWestVirginia

camc.org 3

Working with the National Football League and National Hockey League, William Browning III, DO, has seen it all: “Broken clavicles, torn ligaments in knees and shoulders, concussions, foot fractures, you name it.”

During his sports medicine fellowship, Browning was part of the medical team that provided coverage for two pro-level teams: the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres. Since completing his medical training, Browning is pleased to return to his roots in West Virginia, armed with the skills and expertise to treat the sports stars of tomorrow.

Browning grew up in Hillsboro, West Virginia, the son of two family practice physicians. In high school, he played basketball and soccer. After earning his undergraduate degree in biology at West Virginia University, Browning went on to graduate from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

During his residency at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania, he was exposed to a wide array of medical specializations, but kept his focus on orthopedic surgery – more specifically on sports medicine. As a resident, he provided coverage for NCAA Division 1 hockey and wrestling.

After finishing his residency, Browning went on to complete his sports medicine fellowship at State University of New York at Buffalo. It was here that he got his first opportunity to care for professional athletes, providing medical coverage for the NFL Buffalo Bills and NHL Buffalo Sabres.

During this time, Browning was part of the team that treated Buffalo Bills running back CJ Spiller, who suffered a collarbone fracture

When cancer patients first receive their diagnoses and begin treatment, their main focus is getting to the end of active treatment and getting back to life before cancer.

However, often people aren’t prepared for the new challenges that lie ahead after being a cancer patient. They have to learn how to transition to a new identity – cancer survivor.

Finding a “new normal” after experiencing the chaos of cancer—a mentally, physically and emotionally draining battle—is often a difficult task.

Breast cancer survivor Amy Smith describes it as “no man’s land.”

“This is where the hard part begins,” Smith said. “This is where the grieving process starts. The loss of who we were before cancer hijacked our lives.”

The CAMC Cancer Center now has a full-time survivorship coordinator to help patients make this transition.

Shortly after the new cancer center opened, survivorship coordinator Jo Thomas and full-time cancer center psychologist Jennifer Hancock, PsyD, started a support group for breast cancer survivors working to find their “new normal.” The group initially met weekly, discussing everything from nutrition and sleep to the struggles of parenting post-cancer. The women bonded into a group and became a lifeline for each other.

Smith was among the first to volunteer to join the group, eager to meet women with similar experiences to hers.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among West Virginia residents. The goal of the CAMC Lung Cancer Screening Program is to detect lung cancer early, when it is most treatable. When cancer is found early with low-dose CT screening, patients can more often undergo minimally-invasive surgery and have less lung tissue removed.

Patients may be eligible for the low-cost screening program if they:• Arebetweentheagesof50and77• Haveasmokinghistoryequivalentto:

o Smoking one pack per day or more for 30 years

o Smoking two packs per day for 15 yearso Current or ex-smoker who has quit

within the last 15 years• Arenotshowinganysignsorsymptomsof

lung cancer• Haveadditionalriskfactors,suchas

occupational exposures, a personal or family history of lung cancer or prior radiation therapy in the chest area

“This program is dedicated to providing individuals who are at risk for developing lung cancer with individualized, evidence-based care,” said Christine Oskin, corporate director of imaging services at CAMC.

“It’s a sisterhood…and not one that we ever wanted to join, but here we are, struggling to stay afloat, together,” Smith said.

In addition to support groups, the survivorship program at the CAMC Cancer Center offers a full-time psychologist to help cope with post-treatment struggles; a dietician to provide advice on foods to eat to maintain optimal health; classes like the Healthy Steps exercise series, targeted specifically for current and former cancer patients; and more.

Patients can also take advantage of free massages that are offered once a week in the boutique at the CAMC Cancer Center.

“Our goal is to make the transition back to ‘normal’ life as easy as possible for our patients,” Thomas said. “We’re here to offer any support they need, whether it be connecting them with other patients to discuss similar issues or helping guide them when reintroducing pre-diagnosis routines and activities.”

The cancer center has recently created a patient advisory group to get feedback from patients about what services would be helpful after treatment. Through this group and other means of patient feedback, the cancer center will continue to evaluate the needs of its patients and provide the tools they need throughout their cancer journey.

For more information about the CAMC Cancer Center and the survivorship programs available, visit camc.org/CancerCenter or call (304) 388-8612.

“Screening for lung cancer is a new clinical practice that is based on the results from the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) and years of clinical research. The NLST demonstrates that, in certain people, a well-organized approach to screening can prevent 1 in 5 deaths from lung cancer.”

The program includes:• Personalizedlungcancerriskevaluation• Tobaccotreatmentcounselingand

treatment for active smokers• LowdosescreeningCTscan• CTscanreviewandinterpretationbyan

experienced registered radiologist• Continuityofcareandongoing

monitoring

A physician’s order is required for screening. Patients who meet the screening criteria will receive a low-dose radiation CT scan for $99. This is a covered service for patients who have Medicare. This service is offered at the CAMC Imaging Centers located in Kanawha City and at Southridge.

Visit camc.org/lung-screening for lung health resources and full screening criteria or call (304) 388-7033 for more information.

Program aims to ease transition from treatment to life after cancer

New screening program aids in earlier detection of lung cancer

in week seven that was expected to keep him out the rest of the season.

Browning and his colleagues were able to successfully operate and rehabilitate Spiller’s injury in a matter of weeks, enabling him to return and complete the season with the team.

Since then, Browning has

moved back to West Virginia and joined the orthopedic surgery practice at CAMC Physicians Group. With his strong sports medicine background, he specializes in treating a wide range of injuries of the shoulder, hip and knee, including impingement, ligament tears, meniscus injuries and cartilage damage.

Additionally, Browning specializes in arthroscopic surgery, a minimally-invasive technique used for the diagnosis and treatment of joint conditions. The procedure enables Browning to view the internal structures of a joint using an arthroscope, which involves a system of lenses, a small video camera and a light for viewing. The camera is connected to a monitor that allows him to view the joint through a very small incision. Through this same incision, Browning can also often repair the affected joint.

This technique offers a number of benefits to patients including no cutting of muscles or tendons, smaller incisions, and faster recovery time and rehabilitation than traditional surgery – advantages that are particularly appealing for athletes.

Whether in the OR or on the field, Browning loves working with young athletes. He is currently providing medical coverage for local high school sports.

“Developing relationships with the coaches and players really makes you feel like you’re part of the team,” Browning said. “Being able to help athletes get back to doing what they love is really satisfying. It’s very rewarding.”

For more information, visit camc.org/OrthoSurgery.

(left to right)Bill Browning, DO; Les Bisson, MD; Andrew Cappuccino, MD; Jim Kelly (former Bills QB); John Marzo, MD; Thomas White, MD

Buffalo Bills staff, Sammy Watkins (WR) and Bill Browning, DO, during the 2014 season

CAMC joins national hospital alliancetobringcomprehensivecardiac care to womenCathy Lynch has battled heart disease since 1998, having suffered two heart attacks and undergone 19 stent procedures and an unsuccessful quadruple bypass.

Janet Lutz battled high blood pressure for years, and following a severe hypertensive episode in 2008, had four coronary artery stents placed.

For years, Jill Allen struggled with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Following a heart attack, she had four stents placed.

Janet, Cathy and Jill are three women united by an all-too-common problem: heart disease. The term “heart disease” encompasses several types of heart conditions, but most commonly coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack, angina, heart failure and arrhythmias.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease. It is the number one cause of death among women, more deadly than all forms of cancer combined, and one in four women will die due to heart disease each year.

West Virginia consistently has the highest rates of heart disease in the country. The state leads the nation for the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.

Contributing to the high mortality rate could be a lack of awareness about the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women, which is more common among the female population.

Cardiac conditions can present very differently in women than in men. Often, women do not recognize that they are experiencing a cardiac

Continued on page 4

CAMC’s Para-Athletics Coordinator, Zachary Szasz, recognizes Fawn Washington as West Virginia’s Challenged Athlete of the Year at the program’s annual awards ceremony Nov. 10.

QJan 2016TC.indd 3 12/16/15 2:11 PM

JOB surfing? Apply online camc.org

4 camc.org

CAMCoffersuniquetreatmentforbackandneckpain:No medication, no surgeryLower back and neck pain accounts for more than 3 million medical cases in the United States each year. Though a common ailment, it can affect every part of your life and have serious, long-term consequences if not accurately diagnosed and treated.

“Estimates are that 80 percent of people at some point in their lives will have trouble with their backs, but the overall prognosis for back and neck pain is fairly good, especially when it’s addressed early,” said Dave O’Brien, physical therapist (PT) at the CAMC Physical Therapy Center.

O’Brien is one of only a few PTs in West Virginia who is diplomaed in the McKenzie Method of treating back and neck pain, which combines mechanical assessment, exercise, self-management, patient education and empowerment in lieu of spending months in therapy, buying expensive equipment or relying on invasive methods like injections or surgery.

The McKenzie Method is effective for a variety of musculoskeletal problems, including pain in the back, neck and extremities (i.e., shoulder, knee, ankle, etc.), as well as issues associated with sciatica, sacroiliac joint pain, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, muscle spasms and intermittent numbness in the hands or feet.

Developed and introduced in the 1950s by physiotherapist Robin McKenzie of New Zealand, the McKenzie Method is a technique that allows patients to learn the principles of their pain and empowers them

to be in control of their own symptom management through extensive assessment and exercise-based treatment options.

“McKenzie painstakingly took notes about how patients responded to different movements, positions and applications of force,” said O’Brien, who completed a fellowship and is diplomaed in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy from the McKenzie Institute International. “He followed how pain patterns behaved based on particular positions and movements, and he came up with the idea of teaching people how to do it themselves. Educating patients and teaching them how to fix their own problem is the hallmark of this approach. It focuses on making the patient independent and only using manual techniques when absolutely necessary to advance their progress.”

The program begins with a thorough assessment of the patient, which includes how they stand, bend, walk and lie down. Each of these movements has a strong effect on the presenting symptoms. The answers to these questions help O’Brien figure out what treatment and prevention strategies may be beneficial for them.

“This program is very individualized for each person,” O’Brien said. “Based on their responses in the assessment, I can give them self-treatment recommendations that, more often than not, prove to be very effective.”

The patient is asked to perform these exercises roughly every two hours at the beginning of treatment. They are also instructed to perform the exercises in the presence of increasing pain.

“What we want to do is interrupt the factors that are causing the pain,” O’Brien said. “If the exercises are reductive, then applying them frequently throughout the day gives them much better management of their symptoms.”

This method also aims to be effective in the least number of treatment sessions. By minimizing the number of visits to the doctor and giving patients the knowledge and tools needed to manage their own pain symptoms, this approach eliminates the dependency on both the physician and more rigorous medical interventions.

Behavioral changes are also part of the process.

“Posture is a big contributor to lower back and neck pain,” O’Brien said. “It is important to help the patient change postures and positions. Education and understanding of why we’re doing the things we’re doing is crucial.”

Back pain tends to have a fairly high relapse rate, which can lead to costly and time-consuming treatment. O’Brien understands that enabling patients to be in charge of their own treatment has positive, long-term effects.

“The things we are doing have been shown to improve outcomes,” O’Brien said. “It gives the patient the edge because they can take care of themselves. This method may not work for everyone, but if you know a condition can be managed with self-treatment, then you are obligated to teach people how to do just that. That’s effective health care.”

For more information visit camc.org/PT.

Goals of the McKenzie Method

•Accuratelyunderstandthepatient’spresentation and behavior of symptoms

•Determinethemostappropriateandeffective treatment plan

•Eliminatesymptomsandrestorefullfunction

•Empowerthepatienttoself-treatandprevent recurrences

•Helpinformpatientsifothermedicaladvice or testing is needed

Source: The McKenzie Institute®, USA

the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States. Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancers. It is estimated that more than $147 billion is spent annually in medical costs related to obesity, and this figure is expected to grow by $43 to $66 billion each year in the U.S. by 2030.

In addition to the ORBERA™ weight loss balloon, the CAMC Weight Loss Center offers other non-surgical (medical) weight loss programs as well as surgical weight loss procedures, including gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy and revisional weight loss surgery.

For more information, call the CAMC Weight Loss Center at (304) 388-4965 or visit camc.org/WeightLoss.

non-surgical weight loss Continued from front

event, making it less likely they will seek medical help, which can lead to higher rates of complications and death.

In an effort to raise awareness and provide education about this serious health issue in our region, CAMC has joined the WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance, a network for hospitals across the country that work together to advance women’s heart health in communities.

WomenHeart is a national patient education campaign whose mission is providing women with information, education and patient support services to properly identify the signs and symptoms of heart disease and to help them though their recovery with educational and emotional support.

“CAMC is proud to join forces with WomenHeart,” said Derek Ellison, director of CAMC cardiac rehabilitation services. “We’ve always been a leader in cardiac care, and this relationship is part of our commitment to improving the delivery of comprehensive cardiovascular care for women in West Virginia.”

As part of this initiative, CAMC has its own chapter of the WomenHeart Support Network, which is the country’s only peer-led network for women living with heart disease. The network is comprised of hundreds of WomenHeart Champions, a national volunteer group of female heart disease survivors who provide educational and

According to the American Heart Association, 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with proper education and lifestyle changes. “Unlike cancer and some other diseases, this is something you can control,” Lutz said. “We had workshops that trained us to teach practical skills for living with heart disease and how to live a heart-healthy life.”

“Our goal is to educate women before a cardiac event, support them after they may have experienced one and advocate for them on a national level,” Lynch said. “We’re there every step of the way.”

Lynch began working with WomenHeart while living in Wisconsin and is excited to see the program come to West Virginia.

Lutz, Allen and Lynch are taking their knowledge and resources out into the community, sponsoring presentations about heart health, participating in health fairs and organizing support groups for women with heart disease.

“The support groups are an opportunity to talk to women who have gone through what you’re going through and understand your anxiety and concerns,” said Allen. “We’re here to answer questions through education, relieve stress and help remind women that they’re not alone.”

emotional support to other women in their communities struggling with heart disease.

WomenHeart Champions work with local organizations such as hospitals, worksites, places of worship and other community groups to distribute educational materials, give presentations and coordinate special events.

This fall, CAMC nominated Jill Allen, Janet Lutz and Cathy Lynch to serve as its WomenHeart Champions. As part of their training, the champions attended the WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic.

“At the symposium, we learned how to use our own experiences to help other women, and the doctors from Mayo volunteered their time to teach us more about the clinical side of heart disease as well,” said Lutz.

“I didn’t have access to this sort of support and education when I had a heart attack and I know how scary it can be, but I’m so happy that I’m part of this endeavor to help bring these services to our community,” Allen said.

“It’s not often you find a hospital that offers what CAMC has to help women in the community who are battling heart disease, and I’m proud to be able to help women in Charleston take charge of their heart health,” said Lynch.

SupportSupport groups are held the fourth Tuesday of every month (excluding November and December) from 6 to 7 p.m. in the small conference room of the CAMC Heart and Vascular Center.

Visit camc.org/WomenHeart for more information and to view the schedule for monthly support groups.

comprehensive cardiac care Continued from page 3

(L-R) Cathy Lynch, Jill Allen, Janet Lutz

HeartScarvesHeartScarves are handmade red scarves that are distributed by WomenHeart champions to other women living with heart disease to offer comfort, support and encouragement. CAMC is accepting HeartScarves donations for cardiac patients at our hospitals. For more information, visit camc.org/WomenHeart.

CAMC hits the road with new truck artCAMC recently unveiled new artwork on its fleet of delivery trucks that service CAMC’s hospitals and off-site facilities throughout the region. The new designs were created by the CAMC marketing department and installed by Balance Clothing Company in Charleston. CAMC has eight delivery trucks that transport supplies, housekeeping and linens daily from Logan to Teays Valley.

QJan 2016TC.indd 4 12/16/15 2:11 PM