Virginia McGregor - Scranton, PA

CMC Offers Wound Care Center

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:19:21 +0000

CMC’s very successful Wound Care Center is undergoing an expansion. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary center offers specialized treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, pressure sores, burns, wounds due to circulatory problems, and non-healing surgical wounds.New state-of-the-art equipment is now available with Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO), an advanced type of care for chronic wounds and vascular (blood vessels) disease.HBO is a non-invasive procedure where the patient breathes 100% oxygen while enclosed in a specially designed chamber at increased atmospheric pressure. HBO is used to promote and support healing in the management of conditions in which oxygen transport to the tissues has been disrupted by traumatic injury, infection, inflammation, or edema. This oxygen-rich environment allows the body’s natural wound-healing mechanisms to function more effectively, dramatically speeding up the healing process of chronic wounds.

CMC Offers Stroke Care Program

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:17:22 +0000

Stroke ranks third as the cause of death in the U.S. and is the leading cause of longterm disability. The goal of our Stroke Care Program is to help everyone understand the risk factors, symptoms and importance of diagnosis as soon as possible. The earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater chance of complete recovery.For those patients that directly present to CMC, identification and treatment begins in the emergency department. Patients who exhibit signs and symptoms after admission are also cared for in the same expedited fashion. All patients receive continued care by a neurologist and by the only on-staff neurosurgeon in the area.Everyone has some stroke risk. Some you have no control over, such as being 55+, being male, having diabetes, being African-American, or having a family history of stroke. Medical risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and carotid artery disease. Lifestyle risks include smoking, drinking too much alcohol and being overweight.If you have one of these risk factors, it is very important that you discuss with your doctor the lifestyle and medical changes you can make to prevent a stroke.And if you believe someone is having a stroke, act fast and get them to the CMC Trauma Center as soon as possible.

CMC Offers Fragility Fracture Care

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:16:08 +0000

Older adults who come to CMC with bone fractures will benefit from expedited care through a new program designed to foster a more rapid and complete recovery. The Fragility Fracture Program targets individuals age 65 and older with fractures of the hip, leg and ankle. Since more than one-third of people in this age bracket fall each year, timely medical assessment and intervention reduces negative fallrelated effects and improves outcomes.Treatment begins with a
rapid, comprehensive evaluation by a team of experts in orthopedics, geriatrics, internal medicine, hospital medicine, emergency medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition counseling, anesthesia, pharmacy, nursing, social work and discharge planning.How does the senior benefit? Through:4streamlined admission to eliminate time spent in the emergency room4surgery for repair of broken bones, within 24 hours of admission when appropriate4daily evaluation toensure earlier mobility and faster recovery4pain management4fast initiation of rehabilitation and therapy4home health services and/or nursing home rehabilitative servicesFor many seniors, with fast and proper care, a return to their pre-injury level of movement, function and independence is often possible.

CMC Offers Critical Limb Care

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:12:54 +0000

CMC’s advanced medical capabilities and specialized equipment in the Critical Limb Care Unit are devoted to saving arms and legs at risk for amputation. Risks can be caused by circulatory blockages. Certain factors, such as the person’s age and overall health, can complicate treatment.CMC’s Critical Limb Care Program is the only such program in our region. Treatment incorporates cardiovascular medicine, integrative medicine, surgical support, behavioral health, nutrition and exercise to provide each patient with the best chance possible to keep his or her limb viable. If you are suffering from circulatory problems, this is the best place to come for diagnosis, a treatment plan, a second opinion or additional treatment options.

CMC Offers Chest Pain Program

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:12:00 +0000

The second most common visit for adults to the emergency room is chest pain. Most of these patients are found to not have a life-threatening condition, so the key is to rapidly identify those who do require immediate treatment.At CMC, we have established a Chest Pain Program to streamline cardiac care for heart attack patients through the collaborative efforts of doctors, nurses, technicians, pre-hospital providers and many other team members. Our processes accelerate identification of low, intermediate and high risk patients. Identification includes laboratory tests, non-invasive cardiac and stress tests, along with a detailed history and physical examination. Results are then evaluated by a qualified physician.Once risk is determined, high risk patients are admitted for urgent treatment; immediate risk patients are observed and tested over 24 hours for a definitive diagnosis; and low risk patients are tested over 6-12 hours in our emergency department. Excellent outcomes for all patients are very high due to the availability of multiple disciplines on a 24/7 basis.

The Cap Says It All

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:09:25 +0000

One woman who remains true to the honorable tradition of bedside nursing, while looking toward the future of healthcare as she tends patients recovering from surgery, is Leona Campbell, Lpn. The West Scranton resident has been a familiar, and welcoming, face on the Medical Surgery floor since the first day she started nearly 40 years ago.Aside from her knowledge and compassion, she is recognizable as the only nurse who stills wears the traditional white nurses’ cap. The public knows this, she says. “Whenever I’m out people come up to me and say ‘You’re the nurse from CMC who wears the cap.’ But I’m proud of it. People like it.”Not only has Leona been employed at CMC a long time, she spends most of her time here, working double shifts, dispensing medications, caring for wounds, and healing broken spirits. “I enjoy my work with patients and I’m very comfortable with everyone. We’re like a family here. When people thank you because your nursing has helped them get better, that’s a good feeling.”

Generations of Care

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:07:10 +0000

Primary care physician Louis Kareha, DOgrew up at Community Medical Center. His entire family has been part of CMC’s caring community of healthcare professionals for decades. Now he too practices medicine here.As a child, Dr. Kareha made house calls with his grandfather, the first Dr. Louis Kareha. Louis G. Kareha, MD was a major force in the development and operation of the Department of Family Practice. He was fiercely loyal to both “his hospital” and “his patients,” known for making rounds every day before the sun rose, and driving through the blinding snow to patients’ homes in their time of need.CMC continued to be home to the younger Kareha because his father worked here for nearly 30 years as a medical technician and his mother was a CMC nurse. With such compassion in the family, it was no surprise he became a teen volunteer in eighth grade.Today Dr. Kareha serves as CMC’s subsection chief of family practiceand devotes one day a week to working in our Wound Care Center as a hyperbaric specialist. When reflecting upon the Kareha generations at CMC, he says, “there have been many technological advances at the hospital, but it remains a comfortable place to be and deeply committed to the people of this area.”

Compassionate Care for the Mentally Ill

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:04:54 +0000

Committed to healing the whole person, CMC is the only local hospital that maintains a Behavioral Health Unit. Here those needing acute, inpatient psychiatric treatment are provided a caring, compassionate, therapeutic environment. The short-term, inpatient 24-bed unit offers intensive 24-hour care for adults, 18 years and older, in warm, welcoming, clean surroundings.The professional staff on the unit is comprised of psychiatrists, nurses, mental health workers, social workers, counselors, psychologists, activity therapists, occupational therapists, case coordinators and administrative staff. This multidisciplinary team utilizes a comprehensive, individualized treatment approach by focusing on patient strengths.Bringing humanity to the treatment of behavioral health, our care is respectful of patient dignity, provides a safe setting that uses the least restrictive measures for the patient, instills patients with hope for their future and empowers them to play a significant role in their recovery.

Our Team Is All Heart

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:02:59 +0000

The exceptional, award-winning team in CMC’s Cardiac Care Unit will pull at your heart strings in more ways than one. Not only are our surgeons and cardiologists the most dedicated you will find, they have one of the highest success rates in the country for complex procedures. According to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, for the fourth year in a row, CMC’s outcomes in open-heart surgery were better than expected. “The hospital has seen positive outcomes since the inception of our program,” points out Dr. Russell Stahl , chief of cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Stahl helped lead a team of surgeons at CMC to arguably one of the hospital’s most successful years, going over twelve months without a mortality despite some complex procedures. “That’s a huge milestone and it’s a testament to the team we have,” Dr. Stahl says.Staying local is the way to go, he adds. “CMC results regularly surpass many providers in our area, as well as some top academic centers in Pennsylvania,” he explains. “Year after year, CMC has demonstrated better than expected outcomes in every category, a level of consistency unmatched by other heart programs in NEPA.”

Putting A Spring In Your Step.

Virginia McGregor — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:56:19 +0000

Anyone who has ever had trouble doing the things they most enjoy because of hip or knee pain can jump for joy over the outstanding results being mastered at CMC’s New Steps Joint Replacement Center. This new 14-bed unit is one of the most technologically advanced areas of the hospital. New Steps is headed by Dr. Harry Schmaltz, one of the region’s leading surgeons in minimally invasive joint replacement, and Dr. Alan Gillick who specializes in leading-edge spinal surgery CMC performs more knee and hip replacements with the lowest infection rates than any other facility in the region. Our minimally invasive, rapid recovery program has been rated among the top 5% in the nation by HealthGrades. “We’re very proud of our program which utilizes new surgical techniques, advanced education and individualized therapy to provide patients with a smaller incision and shorter recovery time,” says Dr. Schmaltz, who educates doctors all over the world on these special techniques.The hospital also ranked among the top 10% in the country and seventh in the state for spine surgery, earning it two excellence awards from HealthGrades. It is the second year in a row CMC has won an excellence award for spinal surgery