http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/ Top 10 Most Recent News articles for LRMC en-us Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:29:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=143 Lakeland Regional Medical Center will present the following community education program in July: Breast Cancer Survivors Group will meet on Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, 3525 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Attendees will here from a local breast cancer survivor and physicians. Dr. Richard Boothby, Gynecologic Oncologist, will present Sexuality and Breast Cancer. Dr. Martha Lima, Radiologist, will speak on breast MRIs and Laura Serke, Clinical Dietitian, will talk about proper diet during cancer treatment. Even Non-Smokers Can Get Lung Cancer: What You Need to Know to Safeguard Against the Disease will be presented by Dr. Madhavi Venigalla and Dr. Sushma Nakka on Tuesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. at Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, 3525 Lakeland Hills Blvd. These programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested by calling (863) 687-1400. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=143 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=140 Lakeland Regional Medical Center has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care available in hospitals. Approximately 15 percent of hospitals in the United States have received this designation. LRMC has achieved this recognition for the third year in a row. The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals who have earned the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services. Lakeland Regional Medical Center is committed to providing the best care possible to our patients, as evidenced by being awarded with the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition for three consecutive years. Our therapists are specially trained to provide an array of treatments and other services to patients at LRMC with lung-related conditions. Patients and families can rest easily, knowing that they are receiving the best quality care possible, said Kim Pyles, Med, RRT, AE-C, Director of Respiratory and Radiology Services. The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 46,00 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide. The QRCR program grew out of concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients. Visit www.aarc.org for more information. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=140 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=141 The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Approval with Commendation to the cancer program at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. LRMC received the designation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrated a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program, including cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement. The Approvals Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Approval by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain approval, facilities with CoC-approved cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years. Receiving care at a CoC-approved cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to: Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the art services and equipment, A multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options, Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options, Access to cancer-related information, education, and support, A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up, Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care, And, most importantly, 7. Quality care close to home. The Commission on Cancer (CoC) is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit www.facs.org/cancer/index.html. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=141 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=142 The American Stroke Association recently awarded Lakeland Regional Medical Center its Get With The GuidelinesSMStroke (GWTGStroke) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes LRMCs commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to evidence-based guidelines. In treating stroke, time is of the essence, said Dr. Carlos Villar, Director of LRMCs Primary Stroke Center. Receiving the Get With The GuidelinesStroke Silver Performance Achievement Award shows LRMCs commitment to treating stroke patients quickly and effectively. Through GWTG-Stroke, Lakeland Regional Medical Center is tracking comprehensive efforts to rapidly diagnose and treat of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. This includes being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate. The GWTG-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award recognizes LRMC for 12 months of compliance with the seven GWTG-Stroke Achievement Measures. These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs, and smoking cessation. This evaluation period reflects an ongoing effort of the hospital to continually maintain 85 percent compliance required for an award. Meeting the Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award criteria demonstrates our active effort to improve the outcomes of the stroke patients we serve and our commitment to save lives, said CEO Jack Stephens. We are extremely proud of the hard work our staff members put in to ensuring our community members get the best care possible. GWTG-Stroke is a comprehensive program that provides an online interactive assessment and report tool, resources, quarterly workshops, training and feedback to staff at participating hospitals. The goal is to improve implementation of evidence-based interventions that are proven to reduce complications after stroke and the chances of a subsequent stroke or heart attack. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 795,000 people each year experience a new or recurrent stroke. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=142 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=138 Award-winning Center Heals Wounds and Changes Lives Lakeland Regional Medical Centers Wound Care Center was recently honored as a Center of Distinction by Diversified Clinical Services. LRMC became one of only 14 of the nearly 285 eligible hospitals throughout the country to achieve this honor. The honor was given due to the Wound Care Centers high patient satisfaction, exceptional healing rates and outstanding clinical outcomes. In the past 12 months, patient satisfaction rates have reached 97 percent and 89 percent of wounds have been healed in as few as 35 days. Ken Maroney, Program Director, said Im honored. Its a privilege to be a part of a great collaborative effort between LRMC and DCS. Together, we are able to heal patients and help them get back to living their lives. The LRMC Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is an out-patient, hospital-based program that works in conjunction with the patients primary care physician, serving as an adjunctive service for the referring physician. The wound center features state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a treatment in which the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. HBOT quickly delivers high concentrations of oxygen to the bloodstream and assists in the healing process of wounds. The Center is accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=138 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=139 Lakeland Regional Medical Center celebrated Trauma Awareness Day on May 20, 2009 with a reception that brought Trauma staff back together with the patients whose lives they helped save. The ceremony gave staff a chance to celebrate the progress of the trauma survivors, as well as renew contact with the patients. Trauma Awareness Day offers a unique time for both patients and hospital staff to show appreciation for the ways they have touched each others lives. In many trauma cases, patients can be in the hospital for several months, and for that time, patients and their families become intimately known to the hospital staff. They celebrate triumphs together and regroup after setbacks. But many times, staff are left to wonder what has become of their patients once they leave the hospital. Trauma Awareness Day lets us get a glimpse back into the lives of patients we have often wondered about. It is so rewarding to see that the patients recovery has continued to progress once theyve left us, and in many cases, its almost overwhelming to see how far our patients have come. We are so proud of the hard work our staff put in while they were here, but even prouder of the continued work our patients do every day to recover from their traumatic accidents, said Janine Curlutu, Trauma Program Manager. The day also recognizes the vital roles so many different people play in trauma incidents from emergency personnel to hospital staff ranging from chaplains to respiratory therapists to nurses to doctors, each one plays an integral role in saving a trauma victim. While patients can never prepare themselves for the shock of a trauma situation, our LRMC staff is specially trained for just that. Patient Dale Liggett had this to say For my first three weeks of being at LRMC, I was unconscious. But that whole time there was a series of things going on behind the scenes a lot of things that were put into place to save me. I thank God for the folks at LRMC their training, dedication, professionalism and caring. Since 1998, LRMC has been a Level II Trauma Center covering Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties nearly 690,000 people total. While this is LRMCs primary service area, trauma patients are also received from other counties, including Hillsborough and Pasco. The majority of trauma patients at LRMC are between the ages of 16 and 65. In 2008, the trauma program at Lakeland Regional Medical Center saw 1,336 patients. LRMC has 6 Trauma/Critical Care Surgeons who provide trauma call on a continuous basis under the leadership of Olumide Sobowale, M.D., Trauma Services Medical Director. These Trauma Surgeons are board certified in Surgery and Critical Care Medicine and provide 24-hour coverage for patients in the trauma intensive care unit, one of four adult intensive care units at LRMC. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=139 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=137 Congratulations to Danny Hughes, Environmental Support Staff, Perioperative Services, for being named LRMC's Employee of the Month! In his position, Danny helps move patients, holds for prep and works on the Jackson tables. In addition, Danny cleans rooms between cases, re-stocks supplies and runs errands. "Danny takes his job and duties very seriously, but also keeps it fun. He understands the duties and challenges we face daily,"said Jeff Reschke, Materials Manager, Perioperative Services. "When asked to help, he is always willing and does it with a smile. He takes great care of the equipment, and his knowledge of the high tech OR tables used is huge." Danny has been an LRMC employee for more than 40 years. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=137 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=135 Looking for a way to keep up on all of the latest news from LRCC's Breast Cancer Survivor's Day? The group is now on Facebook, giving survivors and family members a new place to connect. If you're already a member of Facebook, simply click here to become a fan and learn the latest news. If you don't have a Facebook account, but would like to sign up for one, simply visit Facebook and create an account - it's free and simple, and you only need an email address to get started. Visit the Breast Cancer Survivor's Group often for the latest news on group meetings, news from LRCC and breaking news on cancer care and research. Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=135 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=136 The community is invited to attend a National Cancer Survivors Day event on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, 3525 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Registration opens at Noon and the program begins at 1:00 p.m. The event ends at 3:00 p.m., but will be followed immediately by a special caregiver workshop beginning at 3:15 p.m. This years theme is Hope Blooms. After a welcome by LRCC Administrator Kim Walker, and a blessing by Reverend Esther Haas, Visitation Pastor from Victory Church, attendees will hear from inspirational speakers Jerry Hanks and Bobbi de-Cordova Hanks as they share their story from the perspective of both a survivor and a caregiver. LRCCs newest urologic oncologist, Dr. Graham Greene, will also be speaking. The 2009 Nurses of Hope Award recipients sponsored by the Oncology Nursing Society of Polk County will be recognized followed by a butterfly release in the Healing Gardens. Refreshments will be served and an interactive art project will be available before and after the program. This event is free and open to the public. Cancer survivors, their family and friends, oncology professionals and volunteers are especially encouraged to attend. Please call (863) 687-1400 to register. This special community event is made possible by a grant from the LRMC Foundation. Special thanks to the Lakeland Garden Club for refurbishing the Butterfly Garden, Ridge Orchid Society for donation of orchids, and North Lakeland Elementary art students for the interactive art project. Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=136 http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=133 Congratulations to Joyce Rawls, Administrative Secretary, Environmental Services, for being named LRMC's Employee of the Month! In her position Joyce provides administrative support to 10 supervisors and 180 employees within the Environmental Services Department. Her duties include secretarial support to the Environmental and Laundry/Linen Services Department. In addition, she attends assigned committee and department meetings; schedules and plans meetings and activities for the department; answers the concerns and issues of patients, physicians, staff and visitors; and maintains departmental timekeeping for payroll and attendance records. "This self-titled businesswoman is so smoothly and professionally calm when dealing with people," said Pam Green, Project Coordinator, Planning and Marketing, who worked closely with Joyce during her previous years of employment with the Planning and Marketing Department. "Joyce treats everyone with dignity, and it is a joy to work with her." Joyce is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). In the future, she hopes to work with her department to achieve the best hospital-wide patient, customer and employee satisfaction scores. As an LRMC employee for 10 years, she looks forward to continuing to grow in her position. Congratulations, Joyce! Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.lrmc.com/site/about/news/details.asp?NewsID=133