The Medical Leader

By TEDDY PAYNTER
Staff Writer

The affiliation with Cleveland Clinic is helping Pikeville Medical Center, already a world-class provider, to maintain a low inpatient mortality rate among its heart attack patients.

The key to PMC’s success is the hospital’s early and rapid treatment for heart attack patients. Medical professionals can begin diagnosis and treatment even before a patient arrives at the hospital. Acting quickly can save a patient’s life and prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle.

“National panels of experts in heart attack care identify the best evidence for appropriate care of a heart attack patient,” PMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. William Johnson said. “For this time period we have met or exceeded our goal of a 4.9 percent or less inpatient mortality for treating heart attack patients.”

Heart attack patients may be treated with oxygen therapy; aspirin to thin the blood and prevent blood clotting; nitroglycerin to reduce the workload placed on the heart while improving blood flow through the coronary arteries; and something to relieve chest pain.

“Once the diagnosis of a heart attack is confirmed or strongly suspected, our physicians will start treatments to try to promptly restore blood flow to the heart,” Dr. Johnson said.

Two main treatments are “clot-busting” medicines and angioplasty, a procedure used to open blocked coronary arteries.

“We feel like our physicians and health personnel do an outstanding job when it comes to the treatment of heart attacks,” Dr. Johnson said. Read more…

By Teddy Paynter
Staff Writer

PIKEVILLE – Quality patient care is high on the list of priorities at Pikeville Medical Center.

The hospital was honored in May by HealthStream Research for achieving a patient satisfaction rate of 95 percent.

“It speaks volumes for our employees,” said PMC Vice President of Rehabilitation Services Debbie Puckett. “We have a closeness between our workers and patients that makes what we do special.”

HealthStream Research contacts patients after their discharge and surveys them about the care they received during their hospital stay.

“Surveyed patients were asked to rate our hospital on a scale of 1 to 10, with one being the ‘worst hospital they can imagine’ and 10 being the ‘best hospital they can imagine,’” said Puckett.

“Our patients ranked us in the top 4 percent of hospitals surveyed.”

Nearly 500 health-care facilities across the country were evaluated. Read more…

COLLABORATION: Leonard Lawson Cancer Center physicians collaborate as part of the hospital-wide effort to continually improve patient care. These physicians are among up to 60 medical professionals who attend the monthly Cancer Case Conference at the hospital.

PIKEVILLE — “Education” is a valuable word at Pikeville Medical Center.

Doctors, nurses and staff members work directly with patients every day, but they also work behind the scenes to continually improve patient care.

The responsibility to continually improve patient care is one of many PMC goals that is regularly practiced, emphasized, measured and evaluated at the hospital in an effort to fulfill the mission of “Providing quality, regional health care in a Christian environment.”

The responsibility has taken doctors, nurses and other medical professionals back to the classroom.

PMC departments regularly host classes, conferences and symposiums to ensure that medical staff members are continually updated on medical issues and treatment options.

The latest implementation of this effort came with the development of a monthly Infectious Disease Conference, which is being hosted by Dr. Fadi Al Akhrass, an infectious disease physician.

Dr. Akhrass held the first Infectious Disease conference on June 22, providing information about bacterial lung infections to 21 doctors, resident physicians, nurses and medical staff at the hospital.
Read more…

PIKEVILLE — Clintwood, Virginia native Dr. Rebecca McCowan, D.O. will join Pikeville Medical Center as an obstetrics and gynecology (Ob-Gyn) physician in July.

She joins the office and will partner with Dr. Erin Mullins in her office located at the Pikeville Medical Building, 387 Town Mountain Road.

McCowan, who graduated from the Pikeville School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007, recently completed her residency at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.

“I wanted to practice medicine close to home and stay in the mountains,” McCowan said of becoming a member of the PMC team. “I want to be a part of such a growing facility.” McCowan said she will provide basic Ob-Gyn care, but will also be able to provide advanced laparoscopic surgery.

“I was very impressed with the facilities at PMC, the equipment in the OR (operating room) and the staff,” McCowan added. Read more…

Jenigiri

SOUTH WILLIAMSON — Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) continues to expand its services throughout the region.

The hospital has opened an oncology office in South Williamson. Dr. Bharat Jenigiri, a medical oncologist, is accepting patients at the new office located at 411 Central Avenue in the old South Williamson Grade School building.

PMC, a back-to-back winner of the National Hospital of the Year, thrives to make its services more convenient for patients. Jenigiri’s office is on the second floor and he will be at the location on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Patients can make an appointment by calling 606-237-3969.

Staff Report

HAVE A BLAST: Numerous events are taking place in local communities to honor the nation’s independence. Firework displays will be held locally on July 2-4. See pages 5-6B for a full listing of events. (Medical Leader | Photo courtesy of Metro)

PIKEVILLE — During the 2011 regular session of the General Assembly, legislators changed state law, allowing the purchase of higher-powered fireworks.

“This year, state law allows for the purchase of fireworks that are known as ‘1.4 Consumer Fireworks,’” said William Swope, director of the Division of Fire Prevention who also serves as Kentucky’s state fire marshal. “This does not mean that fireworks you see at professional shows are legal; they are not. What this does mean is that popular fireworks like Roman candles, firecrackers and bottle rockets can now be sold and used legally by consumers in our state, providing that local ordinances allow this activity.”

Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Department Nursing Director Michelle Rainey said the hospital usually doesn’t treat many fireworks- related injuries, but the number of injuries caused by fireworks may increase because people can now legally purchase higher-powered fireworks.

Smallwood

She expects to see an increase in the number of burns and/or traumatic injuries to the hands and face this year.

“If the fireworks are easier to get, we may see an increase in the number of injuries,” she said. “We are always prepared for any kind of injury that comes in. We’re always prepared for any kind of emergency medical need.”

Here’s what PMC Emergency Department physicians Brandon Smallwood, M.D. (Medical Director of the ED) and John Fleming, D.O., had to say about dealing with emergencies:

What is the most important thing a person should remember when facing a medical emergency?

Dr. Fleming: Remain calm. Call 911.

Dr. Smallwood: Call 911. Emergency Medical Services can begin treatment prior to the arrival at the hospital and they can alert the Emergency Department of your injury before you arrive.

If a person receives a fireworks-related injury, is there anything he or she can do to lessen the damage or initiate the healing process prior to visiting the emergency room?

Dr. Smallwood: Most fireworks-related injuries are burns. Burn care begins with first aid by cleansing with room temperature water and covering with a damp dressing prior to coming to the Emergency Department. Putting some creams and ointments on the burn prior to coming to the hospital could cause the patient additional discomfort because we would likely need to remove the creams to properly evaluate the burn, and that can be very uncomfortable. Any eye injury should begin with eye wash.

Rainey

Dr. Fleming: [If an Emergency Department visit is not necessary] Applying a cool compress, clean dressing and antibiotic ointment daily is helpful, but patients should follow up with their family physician to ensure proper healing.

If a person loses a finger or similar body part during a fireworks- related injury, what can he or she do prior to arriving at the hospital to possibly save the finger?

Dr. Smallwood: No matter the part, bring the patient to the Emergency Department rapidly. Time is the critical factor. We can handle the rest.

It is best to wrap the body part in damp paper towels and place in a plastic sandwich storage bag. Then, place bag on ice in cooler and transport it to the Emergency Department quickly and safely.

Dr. Fleming: Apply direct pressure to the wound. Place the amputated part in a plastic bag and place that bag on ice. Go directly to the Emergency Department.

Would you please share any additional information to help people enjoy a safe Independence Day?

Dr. Smallwood: Wear your seat belt. Do not drink alcohol while using fireworks. Consider eye wear while watching or shooting fireworks. Closely supervise children while enjoying fireworks.

Dr. Fleming: Avoid using fireworks while under the influence of alcohol or medications. Use caution around all fireworks or open flames like camp fires or barbeque grills. Use caution to prevent sunburns; use plenty of sunscreen. Drink plenty of fluids while you are outside to prevent dehydration.