Elekta Selects Becky Wheeler as Registrar of the Year
Contact: Kelli Koch
Marketing/Communications Specialist
Southeastern Med
kjkoch@seormc.org
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, May 31, 2011- During the National Cancer Registrars Association’s (NCRA) 37th Annual Education Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, May 15-18, Elekta honored Becky Wheeler, Certified Cancer Registrar at Southeastern Med, as the 2011 Registrar of the Year. The award recognizes registrars who make valuable contributions to the success of their registry, as well as extend those contributions to benefit the broader medical facility and community.
“Becky is most deserving of this award,” said E. Edwin Conaway, Jr., MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Southeastern Med. “She is passionate about the Cancer Registry and the contribution that the Registry plays in both cancer treatment and prevention. Southeastern Med has been blessed with her leadership in its Cancer program.”
Recognized for 25 years of service, Wheeler received the award for the passion she brings to the profession, from compiling data that provides valuable information for monitoring and improving cancer treatments to conducting research and targeting prevention and screening programs. Board President of the Guernsey County American Cancer Society, Becky is involved in the Tar Wars program, where she has visited almost every fifth-grade class in Guernsey and Noble counties to educate students on the dangers of smoking. In addition, Becky spearheaded an awareness program, Think Pink, to increase the number of women receiving breast cancer screenings.
“A kind and generous mentor to fellow registrars, Becky manages all aspects of her registry and still finds the time to volunteer, coordinate a variety of screening programs and remain active in NCRA, the Ohio Cancer Registrars Association and the Cancer Registrars Association of Central Ohio,” says Bonnie Bolyard, office manager, Genesis Hematology & Cancer Treatment Center. “Truly patient focused, Becky has the kindest heart of anyone I know.”
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.
McKay Nominated for Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Contact: Kelli Koch
Marketing/Communications Specialist
Southeastern Med
kjkoch@seormc.org
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, July 5, 2011 – Southeastern Med is proud to announce the nomination of Michael McKay RN, BSN, CNOR, CMLSO, for this year’s Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award, presented by the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA). McKay joined nominees from 76 hospitals from across the state at a recognition dinner on June 15 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton.
“I want to extend congratulations to Mike on behalf of Southeastern Med’s Board of Directors, management, and Mike’s co-workers,” said Ray Chorey, President and CEO of Southeastern Med. “Mike has joined an elite group of healthcare providers in Ohio who are acknowledged for their commitment to their profession, their communities, and their hospitals. We are so fortunate to have him as part of our healthcare team.”
Southeastern Med nominated McKay for his 30 years of dedication and service to the medical center. McKay began his career at Southeastern Med in January of 1978. He graduated in 1977 from OU Zanesville with an associate degree in Nursing. He later earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University in 1994. He also was the first nurse at Southeastern Med to become a certified for perioperative nurse (CNOR), as well as a certified medical laser safety officer (CMLSO).
“The Health Care Worker of the Year award is a great honor, and I’m so grateful for the acknowledgement,” McKay said. “I feel that this award is not only a reflection of my humble efforts over the years, but that it also comes from the high-quality patient care that all of those that I work with here at the medical center provide each and every day.”
Every Ohio hospital was invited to nominate one person for this prestigious award, created in 1996 to honor a hospital employee who demonstrates leadership, reflects the values and ideals of Ohio’s health care facilities, goes above and beyond the call of duty, gives back to the community and has overcome odds to succeed.
McKay lives in Cambridge with his wife, Debbie. They have two daughters, Kelly, an RN at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, and Heather who is employed at the Community Savings in Cambridge. Kelly is married to Bill Beckner of Byesville, and they have one daughter, Allison. McKay also works as a reporter for AVC Communications in Cambridge.
Southeastern Med to Secure ICU Doors
Written by: Kelli Koch
Marketing/Communications Specialist
Southeastern Med
kjkoch@seormc.org
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, July 12, 2011 - Effective July 15, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Southeastern Med will take strides to improve patient and staff safety by securing the ICU doors and requiring visitors to check in prior to entering the unit.
Visitors will now be required to use a phone located outside of the ICU doors to call the nurse’s station to gain access to the area. ICU visiting hours may be limited briefly to provide patient privacy during care or treatment.
“When a patient is entrusted to our care, we can never be too cautious about that patient’s well being, and that starts with ensuring the highest level of safety,” said Michael Campbell, BSN, director of the ICU Department at Southeastern Med. “Our ICU patients are very ill and require a great deal of rest. By securing the unit’s doors, we can better provide our patients with a safe and secure, comfortable environment that promotes healing.”
Southeastern Med to Implement Telestroke Network
Contact: Kelli Koch
Marketing/Communications Specialist
Southeastern Med
kjkoch@seormc.org
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, May 31, 2011 – Nearly 800,000 strokes occur annually in the United States. Beginning June 1, suspected stroke patients coming to the Emergency Department at Southeastern Med will have immediate access to board certified neurologists at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus through a telestroke network.
The OSU Medical Center telestroke network uses videoconferencing technology that allows stroke neurologists at the OSU Medical Center to assist physicians at rural hospitals in the diagnosis of patients with a suspected stroke, as well as provide support in deciding on the best treatment options for the patient.
Southeastern Med’s Emergency Department is now equipped with a video camera system, phone and computer to connect with stroke neurologists at The OSU Medical Center. When a stroke occurs, time is critical. By establishing a telemedicine link, stroke specialists from OSU Medical Center can speak with physicians at Southeastern Med, review patient records and diagnostic results, perform a full examination and talk with family members to help determine the best course of treatment. The patient and family are also able to see and hear the OSU Medical Center stroke physician through the video link.
The OSU Medical Center telestroke network offers neurological services for three southeast Ohio hospitals – Barnesville Hospital, Coshocton County Memorial Hospital, and Southeastern Med. A $265,000 grant to OSU Medical Center from the Ohio Department of Health provided the equipment and training for staff at all three hospitals.
The OSU Medical Center is a nationally certified stroke center designated by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). This certification recognizes the University Hospital as one of the select hospitals nationwide that meet the highest standards in quality and safety.
Identifying the signs of a stroke and getting treatment quickly can make the difference between full recovery and a lifetime of disability. The warning signs of stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
“For stroke patients, time is brain,” said Terri Sabo, BSN, RNBC, chief nursing officer assistant at Southeastern Med. “If the patient seeks immediate medical attention, medication is available to prevent disability after a stroke. It’s very important to call 911 at the first sign of a stroke. EMS responders will notify the hospital of the possible stroke patient, and our Stroke Team will be ready upon the patient’s arrival to provide the best stroke care possible.”
If you or someone you are around experiences any of these symptoms, it’s important to quickly seek medical attention. For more information on stroke, please visit, www.stroke.org.
