Updated News Items

Gibbs Cancer Center to exhibit the Prevent Cancer Super Colon to teach about colorectal cancer prevention

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: November 16, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

The Prevent Cancer Super Colon™ is being presented by Gibbs Cancer Center at the Spartanburg County Headquarters Library 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on November 19 to educate Upstate residents about the second-leading cancer killer of men and women in the U.S.

The exhibit is an inflatable, interactive colon exhibit that teaches people about the risks, symptoms, prevention, early detection and treatment options for colorectal cancer.

Visitors get a close-up look at healthy tissue, tissue with nonmalignant colorectal diseases, as well as tissue with various stages of colorectal cancer. Call 864-560-6747 if you would like to visit the Super Colon with a group of more than 10 people.

A free education session on preventing and detecting colorectal cancer will be held at 6 p.m. in the Barrett Room. Visit gibbscancercenter.com to register.

Colorectal cancer is preventable through screening and if detected early, it can be successfully treated 90 percent of the time. The Prevent Cancer Foundation encourages cancer prevention through research, screening and early detection of all preventable cancers, including colorectal, breast, skin, cervical, lung, oral, prostate and testicular cancers. Since 2003, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has crisscrossed the country with its Super Colon exhibit as part of a campaign that seeks to educate Americans that this disease is preventable, treatable and beatable!

For more information about the Prevent Cancer Super Colon, visit www.preventcancer.org.

Item Last Modified On: November 16, 2009 12:09 PM

Festival of Trees to raise money for Spartanburg Regional Hospice

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 29, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

The holidays are quickly approaching! On Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., the Festival of Trees Auction Gala, held at Summit Pointe in Spartanburg, will raise money for Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

Guests are invited to wear cocktail attire and participate in a silent auction, live auction, hors d’oeuvres, music and dancing! Items in the auction range from holiday décor to gym memberships to long weekends and hunting packages. Tickets will be $65 until Oct. 30; or $75 after that date and at the door.

The Hospice Division of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation raises funds by sponsoring special events, such as Festival of Trees, to provide additional benefits and services not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or by private insurance to terminally ill patients of Spartanburg Regional Hospice. These funds directly benefit patients and their families and enhance the overall Spartanburg Regional Hospice program.

Funds from the events are deposited into our Special Needs Hospice fund. This money is used to give peace of mind, support and comfort to our hospice patients and their families through payment of medications, assistance with utility bills, purchase of nutritional supplements and groceries, providing linens and delivering warm meals at Easter and Thanksgiving holidays.

For more information, call (864) 560-6727 or visit regionalfoundation.com.

The Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The Foundation Board of Trustees is a 24-member volunteer board that works in coordination with the Hospice Division to stimulate and receive charitable gifts to benefit the services and patients of Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

Item Last Modified On: October 29, 2009 3:24 PM

Spartanburg Regional presents the 13th year of Womens Expo

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Women’s Expo will combine health screenings, health education and shopping for a great evening for women of all ages on Tuesday, November 10 at the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health.

Katherine Jeter, Ed.D. will be the featured speaker for the night. Her presentation “Delighting in the Decades of Womanhood” will encourage women of all ages to take charge of their health care. Katherine encourages all to live life with a purpose and a passion.

The event will feature free screenings, such as bone density heel scan, blood pressure, varicose vein screenings and body mass index measurements. Mammography will be offered by appointment, and insurance will be filed. The event will be from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and will include light hors d'oeuvres.

The presenting sponsor for the event is Eden Terrace Assisted Living. Co-sponsors include Costco Wholesale, Spartanburg Vein & Laser Care and Upstate Parent.

Class Schedule

6 p.m.
Delighting in the Decades of Womanhood with Katherine Jeter

7 p.m.
Let’s Talk Libido
Learn to Zumba
Anti-aging Options for All Ages

7:45 p.m.
Spice Up Your Cooking
“You Go Girl” – Incontinence, Bladder Control and Kegals
Trusting What Your Tummy Tells You

8:15 p.m.
Door Prizes

Screenings
Bone Density Heel Scan
Blood Pressure Readings
Varicose Vein Screenings
Body Mass Index Measurements
Mammograms (by appointment only)

To make an appointment for a mammogram, call 560-7777. To register, visit regionalwomenshealth.com or call 560-7999.

Spartanburg Regional physicians lead the way in diabetes care

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

South Carolina ranks tenth in the nation in the number of residents suffering from diabetes, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. In fact, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in South Carolina after heart disease, cancer, accidents, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease and Alzheimer’s.

“Diabetes is an extremely serious medical condition and its complications can result in early mortality and tremendous loss of quality of life,” said Ronald Mayfield, M.D., Director, Carolina’s Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology. “We see many patients who need to be educated in how to manage their diabetes and their health. It’s so important for them to see their primary care physician on a regular basis to ensure they are controlling their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, and to detect complications early.”

Recently, numerous primary care physicians within the Regional Physician Network have been certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance through a partnership with the American Diabetes Association for the Diabetes Recognition program. This certification is designed to recognize physicians, and other clinicians, who use evidence-based measures and provide excellent care to their patients with diabetes.

The Diabetes Recognition program covers several areas such as blood pressure control, eye examinations as well as smoking status and cessation advice or treatment.

“We are thrilled for our physicians who have been recognized as providing top quality care to diabetes patients in our area,” said Stephen Thomas, M.D., Medical Director with the Regional Physician Network. “This achievement is a wonderful asset to our community.”

To see if your doctor is certified, please go to spartanburgregional.com and click on Find a Physician.

Hangar B Ball to entertain, raise funds for heart health

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 26, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation announces that Party on the Moon will be headlining this year’s Hangar B Ball on October 1.

Party on the Moon has performed with artists such as Lynyrd Skynard, Three Dog Night, Bob Seger and Journey, and performed in January at President Obama’s Inaugural Ball.

Music by Party on the Moon along with Hornz Unlimited, their talented brass section, will have attendees dancing the night away after the event’s barbecue dinner.

The event is held in an empty airplane hangar at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport from 6 – 10:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online at hangarBball.com or at the following ticket outlets: Spartanburg Regional Foundation office, Elizabeth’s, Heavenly Ham, Hip Hip Hooray, Hodge Carpets, Spartanburg Regional Federal Credit Union, Spartanburg Regional Cashier’s Office and the Village at Pelham.

The ticket price includes entertainment, dinner, drinks and a T-shirt. Tickets purchased by September 4 will be $60. Tickets after September 4 will be $75. For more information, please call the SRHS Foundation office at 864-560-6727 or visit hangarBball.com.

The SRHS Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that benefits Spartanburg Regional through direct support of health services and programs. The Hangar B Ball is an annual fundraiser organized by the Foundation’s Heart Division. Every year, the proceeds from Hangar B go toward support of the Heart Failure Center and other heart-related services in Spartanburg Regional’s Heart Center.

Item Last Modified On: November 11, 2009 11:28 AM

Spartanburg Regional physicians lead the way in diabetes care

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 26, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

To see if your doctor is certified, please go to spartanburgregional.com and click on Find a Physician.

Item Last Modified On: November 11, 2009 11:29 AM

Festival of Trees to raise money for Spartanburg Regional Hospice

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 26, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

The holidays are quickly approaching! On Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., the Festival of Trees Auction Gala, held at Summit Pointe in Spartanburg, will raise money for Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

For more information, call (864) 560-6727 or visit regionalfoundation.com.

Item Last Modified On: November 11, 2009 11:29 AM

Spartanburg Regional to host Walk to Remember on October 11

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 7, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional will host the Walk to Remember from 2 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 11 in recognition of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, which aims to increase the community’s understanding of the grief associated with the loss of an unborn or newborn child.

This annual memorial event, the only walk of its kind in Spartanburg, enables parents, relatives and friends who have lost a child due to pregnancy complications, stillbirth, early infant loss or fetal abnormalities to walk in remembrance of their loved one. In addition to the walk, the day includes an invocation, music and a balloon release.

Participants are asked to park in the Spartanburg Regional parking garage on East Wood Street and meet in the Cancer Survivors Garden next to the garage.

Walk to Remember is a free event, but participants should register by calling 560-6591 or 560-6864.

Item Last Modified On: October 20, 2009 1:26 PM

Upstate health systems join together to restrict visitation as precaution against spread of flu

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Sept. 11, 2009 – Today, seven Upstate health systems jointly announce restrictions to their visitation policies as a precaution against the spread of H1N1 influenza.

Currently and until the flu incidence rate has significantly decreased, these new guidelines apply to patient visits by children under age 18. Collaborating in this effort are: AnMed Health; Bon Secours St. Francis Health System; Cannon Memorial Hospital; Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center; Oconee Medical Center; Palmetto Health Baptist Easley; and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.

Officials at each of the health systems are asking the Upstate residents for full support in refraining children from visiting hospital patients based on the following:

1) Of H1N1 flu cases reported in the Upstate, a very high ratio has been in children and young adults up to 24 years of age; thus allowing this age group to visit in hospital patient areas presents potentially critical risks to patients; and

2) because the under-18 age population has been determined to be more susceptible to this particular strain of flu (H1N1), visiting in a hospital also significantly increases the child’s own risk for contracting flu.

All of the health systems recognize that these actions may cause some disruption to families but emphasize that their first priority is ensuring the safest possible environment for patients and diminishing potential exposure to the flu.

Families who encounter special situations (for example: visitation to a gravely ill patient) are asked to contact a nursing supervisor or patient relations representative at that particular hospital to ensure that safety protocols are followed for the protection of patients as well as the visiting child.

Dr. Rick Foster, Senior VP of Quality and Patient Safety of the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA), commends Upstate hospitals for taking this important step together to minimize the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus in the hospital setting.

“This type of collaborative pandemic influenza prevention effort, as demonstrated by hospitals across the Upstate, will be critical to minimizing the spread of and loss of life from the H1N1 virus in South Carolina,” said Foster.

This strain of H1N1, while very infectious, appears to be no more dangerous than seasonal flu for most people. However, pregnant women, children and those who are immuno-compromised or have chronic medical conditions appear to be particularly at risk for developing complications.

Healthcare officials encourage those who think they may have H1N1 flu to contact a primary care physician for appropriate advice on medical care; many cases of H1N1 may be cared for at home using over-the-counter medication to provide symptomatic relief. As always, any adult with mild flu-like illness (fever, cough, sore throat, head/body aches) is asked to not visit in the
hospital.

Anyone experiencing one or more of the following severe symptoms should immediately seek medical treatment:
o high fevers
o breathing difficulties
o asthma symptoms that are progressively becoming worse
o severe nausea
o vomiting or diarrhea

Flu vaccines specifically targeting H1N1 are expected to be available this fall according to the CDC.

All hospitals are advising the public to follow safe hygiene practices and protect themselves by washing hands often or using a hand sanitizer of at least 60% percent alcohol.

Spartanburg Regional's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit organizes program to comfort families

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Donations to the SRHS Foundation NICU fund help fund gifts for families.

Glenda’s Closet is a new program that provides customized care packages for families who have lost a newborn.

The program is named in honor of Glenda Tessnear, a neonatal intensive care unit nurse who died in the Regional One helicopter crash in 2004. She had been a flight nurse for six months after 18 years as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse.

One of Glenda’s close friends, Mary White, said that Glenda was a great friend and a nurse who really cared.

“Glenda enjoyed life, and babies and children most of all,” White said. “The challenge of working with babies in the NICU was important to her.”

Through the donations the SRHS Foundation, the program purchases baby clothing and other keepsakes that are shared with families as appropriate to their situation. The gifts are enclosed in a wooden box, which is also intended as a keepsake for the family. Each box is hand-crafted by Brian Wood, M.D. Dr. Wood is a neonatologist, which is a physician who specializes in the care of critically ill infants. The boxes will contain literature chosen to meet the needs of the family, along with clothing and other keepsakes.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit manager Alicia Whiteside said the program meets a need in our community.

“We hope this program will reach out to families during a time of need this very difficult time,” Whiteside said.

Communities can play an important role in the effort to decrease infant mortality by encouraging pregnant women to seek early prenatal care and educating communities, providers, pregnant women and family members on factors that affect infant mortality such as smoking, substance abuse, poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care, medical problems, chronic illness and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading causes of infant death include congenital abnormalities, pre-term/low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), problems related to complications of pregnancy, and respiratory distress syndrome.

Spartanburg Regional’s Level III NICU cares for the most critically ill babies. Its NICU is a 35-bed unit that provides quality care to all high-risk newborns. The hospital is a regional perinatal center that provides stabilization, transport and outreach education in Spartanburg and the surrounding counties for mothers and newborns. Medical care is managed by board-certified neonatologists and perinataologists.

The Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation is a charitable corporation whose primary mission is to benefit the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System through direct support and also through its support of community programs and services that share the Spartanburg Regional mission of providing quality health care to our community. If you would like more information about this or any other giving opportunity, please visit regionalfoundation.com or call 864-560-6727.

Spartanburg Regional holds an infant loss support group for anyone who has had a miscarriage or an infant who has died. This support group meets in the second-floor classroom in Montgomery Tower at Spartanburg Regional the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Local physician earns national acclaim for commitment to teaching, mentoring residents

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. Marc D. Bingham, a practicing family physician in Spartanburg, is among a select group of physicians honored by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation for his commitment to education in the field of family medicine.

Bingham was selected to receive the 2009 Pfizer Teacher Development Award based on his scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and dedication to family medicine.

“As a residency program director for several years, having part-time, community-based family physician colleagues committed to teaching and mentoring resident and students is vital to our program and to our medical school,” said Dr. Mark H. Belfer, AAFP Foundation President. “I applaud the efforts of these award winners for their dedication to the values of family medicine and to teaching the next generation of physicians. In addition, I am very thankful for Pfizer’s continued commitment in this area.”

The $1,500 award recognizes community-based physicians who teach family medicine on a part-time basis. The award provides funding for each recipient to attend an activity of choice to further their professional development and teaching skills.

Bingham earned his medical degree from Louisiana State School of Medicine and is a graduate of the Spartanburg Family Medicine Residency Program, where he is currently a part-time instructor. Bingham will be recognized for this achievement during a ceremony held by his teaching center.

“Dr. Bingham was an outstanding resident during his training at Spartanburg Regional,” said. Dr. Otis Baughman, Director of the Spartanburg Family Medicine Residency Program. “At his graduation he received the award for being the ‘Most Outstanding Resident’ in the Family Medicine Residency Program. His excellence then has carried over into his private practice in Boiling Springs. In spite of being a very busy and successful physician, Dr. Bingham has been volunteering as a teacher of our residents and students."

“The excellence that he has always brought to this profession is evident in all aspects of his life, both personal and professional, and this award is only a small recognition of that. It is an honor to have such an outstanding physician taking the time and effort to be the mentor and teacher of the next generation of Family Physicians.”

The AAFP Foundation, which administers the Pfizer Teacher Development Award, is the philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The AAFP Foundation advances the values of family medicine by promoting humanitarian, educational and scientific initiatives that improve the health of all people.

For more information, visit www.aafpfoundation.org.

New procedure lessens cancer-associated back pain

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: July 27, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional now offers a procedure that can destroy tumors located in the spine that may cause severe pain in cancer patients.

When cancer metastasizes, or spreads, to other parts of the body, it can cause pain. Cancer metastases can often appear on the vertebrae, compressing the spine and causing pain. As the vertebrae weaken, compression fractures can cause severe back pain, impaired mobility and a reduced quality of life.

In the past, treatment options included pain medications, bed rest or bracing. However, those methods are temporary solutions and do not focus on the fractured vertebrae.

While open spinal surgery may be able to restore functionality to the spine, it does come with more risks and requires more time to recover, in addition, some patients may not be candidates for open surgery. A new alternative may be the solution for more patients. Enhanced vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty is an advanced procedure that uses a plasma mediated device to ablate or remove tumor tissue prior to injecting bone cement into the vertebra. This method reduces the risks and complications often found with open spinal surgery as well as providing significant pain relief.

“This procedure, combining plasma mediated tumor removal followed by vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for these patients,” said interventional radiologist Richard Harp, M.D.

Non-surgical methods can be done today by interventional radiologists. Interventional radiology treatments can offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to traditional surgery.

Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments.
They offer more specialized knowledge and alternatives for less invasive treatments for many medical conditions. Real time X-rays, ultrasound and other imaging methods are used to advance a catheter in the body, usually in an artery or vein, to treat at the source of the disease in a non-surgical method.

For a physician referral, please call 560-7999 or talk to your oncologist about this procedure.

Item Last Modified On: August 6, 2009 4:01 PM

Chef attends selective culinary training program

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Chef Patrick McDonnell, production manager of food services at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, was chosen to attend a training program sponsored by the Culinary Institute of America.

“Masterworks II,” held in Hyde Park, N.Y., recently, centered their program on the latest trends in food production methods and the most recent Morrison culinary advances.

“It was a great opportunity to meet chefs and build relationships,” McDonnell said. “It’s not just about the physical need to eat; it’s personal. The food we put out matters and the training provided me with additional training to give the community what they need.”

During the six-day training program, McDonnell learned about the importance of sustainable seafood and forming relationships with smaller farms for local produce. He also learned about ways to become more eco-friendly, such as purchasing reusable plastic cups and composting food waste to promote a better environment.

Of the 850 Morrison Management specialist chefs eligible, 27 chefs were nominated from Morrison’s Healthcare Division. McDonnell was first choice out of 80 chefs in the Southeast. Larry Germany, Regional Director of Operations of Morrison Healthcare Food Services, was a part of the selection process. Morrison is the food provider for Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

“His culinary experience and his willingness to teach [made McDonnell a good selection],” Germany said. “He’s passionate about food, but he’s also passionate about people.”

Serving an average of 3,000 meals a day at Spartanburg Regional, it is a challenge for McDonnell to put out things that are healthy, flavorful and affordable for patients, visitors and employees.

“It’s a challenge to prepare healthier items that have a flavor, but it’s a great challenge to take care of patients and their families within the community,” McDonnell said.

Since his training, McDonnell has received a promotion to Regional Chef Executive. In this position, he will be a part of Morrison’s culinary mentoring process for the state of South Carolina.

Currently, McDonnell and the Spartanburg Regional culinary staff are working with vendors to inject more local produce. McDonnell and the staff have future plans of composting food waste, getting local farmers to come and promote their produce into the menu and creating a community garden involving other local businesses in the area.

“It didn’t stop at the training. It was a start … to bring back what we learned into our community,” McDonnell said.

Feisal named Village Hospital administrator

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Veteran of Greer healthcare community moves into position next month

A veteran of hospital management in Greer will soon be taking the helm of Village Hospital— Spartanburg Regional’s newest campus.

Phil Feisal has been named administrator of the 48-bed anchor hospital at the Village at Pelham. Feisal will assume his new position in July.

Most recently, Feisal served as Executive Vice President of Business Performance for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville. He was also president of Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital in the Greenville Hospital System.

Feisal’s 14 years of experience in the Greenville and Greer areas will help further strengthen Village Hospital’s growing position with the community, said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional.

“We couldn’t be happier that Phil is joining our team,” Angermeier said. “Phil’s history in Greer, combined with his valuable perspective on what it takes to manage a hospital, particularly in this community, portend great things for Village Hospital and the citizens of Greer.”

Feisal’s memberships in a host of local civic organizations, including a term as chairman of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, showcase his roots in the community, said Greer Mayor Rick Danner.

“Phil’s past involvement allows him to hit the ground running,” Danner said. “His knowledge of local events and people is fantastic. That sensitivity to community issues, coupled with his vision for his employees, as well as the citizens, ensures a bright future for our community and Village Hospital.”

Village Hospital represents a new approach to health care that mirrors the growth and innovation taking place in this unique community, Feisal said.

"I am excited to be a part of the new Village Hospital and look forward to returning to the Greer community,” Feisal said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to work in an environment that is dedicated to patient-focused care, where each day gives us the ability to provide for the individual needs of patients and their family members.”

A native of Memphis, Feisal succeeds David Parks, Village Hospital’s former administrator. Parks resigned last month.

Spartanburg Regional Outpatient Services now available at North Grove Medical Park

Mon, 04 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: May 4, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

Getting an MRI, CT scan, lab testing or other services has become more convenient for patients visiting Spartanburg Regional.

Having recently moved outpatient diagnostics to our new Spartanburg Regional Outpatient services at the North Grove location on Highway 9 at Business I-85, patients now do not need to go to Spartanburg Regional for most testing.

Imaging Services at the new location includes MRI, CT scans, routine X-rays and nuclear medicine. Before the move, all outpatient imaging had been performed at the Regional Outpatient Center at Spartanburg Regional. Walk-in appointments are available for all procedures that do not require preparation or insurance pre-certification.

In addition to imaging, diagnostics also include the Sleep Study Center and Laboratory Services. Phlebotomy service and a testing menu of routine chemistries, hematology, coagulation and urinalysis are available.

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Item Last Modified On: May 6, 2009 12:14 PM

NICU reunion to be held on Saturday

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 20, 2009 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional is holding its annual neonatal intensive care unit reunion in conjunction with the March of Dimes Walk for Babies on at 9 a.m. on April 25 at Duncan Park.

All families that have been touched by NICU are invited for refreshments, fun and camaraderie. Families are encouraged to bring a current photo of their child with his or her original birth weight on the back. These photos will be used in a display at Spartanburg Regional.

The Spartanburg Regional NICU is a 35-bed unit that provides quality care to all high-risk newborns. It is a regional perinatal center that provides stabilization, transport and outreach education in Spartanburg and the surrounding counties.

Medical care is managed by four board-certified neonatologists. More than 50 percent of the nurses in the NICU hold a national certification in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing.

Item Last Modified On: April 17, 2009 10:32 AM

Spartanburg Regional among recipients of Susan G. Komen for the Cure grant awards

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional will provide screening and diagnostic services to low-income and uninsured women in Spartanburg County, thanks to a grant from the South Carolina Upstate affiliate of the Susan G. Koman for the Cure.

At its annual Grant Award Ceremony at the Thornblade Club in Greenville, the Upstate South Carolina Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced its 2009 grant awards totaling $647,000, a 28 percent increase over last year’s awards. Of the total, $494,000 was awarded to 13 not-for-profit health care organizations to fund breast cancer education, screening and treatment support for the underserved and $153,400 was awarded to fund national and local breast cancer research.

The funds awarded were raised from numerous fundraising events throughout the year including the 14th Annual Komen Upstate Race for the Cure® which raised a record $614,000 last year, a 23 percent increase over the prior year. The Komen Upstate Race for the Cure® drew participants from the entire Upstate and included 5,300 registered participants, 450 survivors and 60 corporate sponsors.

“Of the net proceeds raised each year, up to 75 percent of the net proceeds stays in the Upstate community to fund grants for innovative breast health programs within the 11 Upstate counties,” says Grants Chair, Liza Owens. “The remaining 25 percent is sent to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grant Program to fund breast cancer research.”

During the past five years, research funds awarded by the Upstate SC Affiliate were used to fund three local breast cancer research grants. Two grants of $250,000 in 2004 and $250,000 in 2006 were awarded to Dr. Wen Chen, who holds a joint appointment as assistant director of molecular biology at the Oncology Research Institute, Greenville Hospital System University Medical System, and a biology professor at Clemson University. Another grant totaling $180,000 was awarded in 2008 to Ya-Ping Sun, Ph.D. at Clemson University for his work on “Multimodality-Enabled Optical Imaging Agents” for breast cancers.

With this announcement, the Upstate South Carolina Affiliate has awarded $3.8 million in grants since 1995. Of that amount, 146 grants worth $2.8 million have been awarded in the Upstate community and $1 million has been awarded to fund breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program.

“Based on the findings of our comprehensive Community Needs Assessment, these grants play a critical role in meeting the identified specific, unmet breast health needs within our community,” Owens said.

The Upstate South Carolina Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure—along with those who generously support us with their talent, time and resources—is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in our community. We join more than 100,000 breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Join us by calling Upstate South Carolina Affiliate at 864-234-5035 or visiting us online at www.KomenUpstateSC.org.

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, it hasinvested $1.3 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1 (877) Go Komen.

SRHS Foundation announces 2009 Society of 1921 Gala guest

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Society 1921 announces Ben Stein as its special guest at its annual Donor Appreciation Gala on March 21.

Stein will tour the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health during the day and then later speak at the evening gala.

Stein has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in America today. His part as the boring, monotone teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was recently ranked as one of the 50 most famous scenes in American film.

He is the former host of the Emmy-winning game show Win Ben Stein's Money. The show won seven Emmy Awards during its run. He was also one of the creators of the well-regarded comedy, Fernwood Tonight.

In his early career, he was a speechwriter and lawyer for Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

A prolific author, Ben Stein has written novels and nonfiction books, several screenplays, and regularly contributes essays and op-eds to national newspapers and magazines. His columns have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, New York Magazine and the Washington Post.

In 2008, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Cal Ripken spoke on success in baseball and life. Past speakers include James Carville and Mary Matalin, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President and Mrs. George Bush and former anchorman Tom Brokaw.

The Society of 1921 annual donors represent consistency and commitment to the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation and its projects. The SRHS Foundation is a charitable corporation whose primary mission is to benefit the
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System through direct support and also through its support of community programs and services that share the Spartanburg Regional mission of providing quality health care to our community. The SRHS Foundation strives to create a community of giving for life.

Spartanburg Regional oncologist awarded for commitment to colon cancer awareness

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. James D. Bearden III receives Betty Ann Moore Advocacy Award

SPARTANBURG – Dr. James D. Bearden III, oncologist and vice president of clinical research at Spartanburg Regional, is the first recipient of the Betty Ann Advocacy Award.

The award was conceived by John Moore and Anne Brady Moore Carlson, the children of the late Betty Ann Moore. Bearden treated Moore during her three-year battle with colorectal cancer.

Throughout her illness, Moore was an advocate for colon cancer screening. She died in 2002. With their mother serving as an inspiration, her two children continue to spread the word on colon cancer awareness.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Although preventable, it claims the lives of approximately 50,000 Americans each year.

In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and their late mother’s birthday, Moore and Carlson recently united to honor their mother with the “Unmasking Colon Cancer Ball,” an annual event held to encourage colon cancer awareness.

This year, Moore and Carlson wanted to give special recognition to someone they felt needed to be applauded for an outstanding dedication to colon cancer treatment. Both felt Bearden was the appropriate choice for this award because of his outstanding commitment to the late Moore.

“Dr. Bearden was very helpful and great,” Moore said. “He is a doctor who went above and beyond for all his patients, not just our mom.”

Not only did Bearden treat Moore’s mother but he also helped Moore and Carlson start the Betty Ann Moore Colon Cancer Awareness Fund.

“He helped us turn an extremely difficult situation into an opportunity to help others,” Moore said.

Bearden said Moore’s positive outlook on life will encourage not only those in the Spartanburg community but also the entire country to have colonoscopies.

“We want awareness to stimulate those who are at risk,” Bearden said. “It’s not just a screening but a therapeutic procedure. This is one of the most significant awards I’ve received … I was honored to fight along with Betty Ann.”

Spartanburg Regional's Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health responds to patient needs with new medical social worker

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional's Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health is tending to the bodies and minds of its patients with the addition of a new medical social worker, Samicca Berry.

"The voice of the patient clearly identified the need for a dedicated breast health social worker," said Patty Hegedus, director of Gibbs Cancer Center’s Support Services programs. "Emotional support and access to financial and community resources are essential to improving quality of life during and after cancer treatment. Having a breast health social worker offers patients a comprehensive approach to their cancer care."

Berry will help tend to the biological and psychosocial needs of breast cancer patients. This includes a wide range of issues, such as helping patients to deal with their medical needs as well as their spiritual ones.

"I was drawn to this position because I will have the ability to help people through one of the most difficult and challenging phases of their life," said Berry.

She will also work to develop a variety of programs specifically designed to support breast health patients. These programs include things like the implementation of community education programs, development and facilitation of support groups, and grant oversight.

Spartanburg Regional Maternal-Fetal Medicine earns national accreditation

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

American Institute of Ultrasound Technology recognizes group’s quality of care model Spartanburg Regional Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s reaccreditation by the American Institute of Ultrasound Technology demonstrates the group’s continued commitment to quality care.

The AIUM is the national body that sets the standard for physician training and quality of care. This national accreditation must be renewed every three years and is an extensive process that tests a wide range of things, from physician and technician skill level to the quality of technology and services available to patients.

“Many people will not invest the price of a movie ticket without checking the reviews. But, how can you tell if you are getting a good ultrasound examination?” said Dr. James A. Scardo, Perinatologist. “In a world that has become technically sophisticated, many people rely on the advice and guidance of experts in the field. AIUM accreditation provides a good measure of reassurance for the Regional Maternal-Fetal Medicine patients. This accreditation is the hallmark of an ultrasound practice that meets nationally accepted standards of patient care, demonstrates consistent excellence, and is current with the latest ultrasound technology.”

Physicians and technicians must be able to demonstrate the ways in which they have continued to improve upon existing skills. They must also show how they are staying up to date with new procedures and improvements in technology.

Additionally, organizations must prove not only that they use the most state of the art technology, but also that the technology is updated and serviced regularly.

“With ultrasound technology moving to the forefront of diagnostic technology, it is important now, more than ever, for hospitals to stay up to date,” said Judi Lindsey, practice manager. “Regional MFM, by pursuing and achieving this reaccreditation, is committing itself to continuing to provide the community with the highest quality of care.”

Village Hospital awarded accreditation from the Joint Commission

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: December 18, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, the Village Hospital has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™.

“This achievement is the result of a tremendous team effort” said David Parks, Administrator of the Village Hospital. “When we built the hospital, we also built a unique culture – one based on our shared vision of providing superior community centered health care. We are proud to be part of this community, and proud to have been recognized by such a renowned organization as the Joint Commission.”

The Village Hospital brings a new approach to health care with a unique management structure and independent medical staff. Comprised of emergency services, medical and surgical care and maternity services, the Village Hospital is located at Westmoreland Road and Highway 14 in Greer.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of the Village Hospital on December 8-11, 2008. The accreditation award recognizes the Village Hospital’s dedication to complying with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

"Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization's performance and the outcomes of care," says Darlene Christiansen, executive director, Hospital Accreditation Program, Joint Commission. "The community should be proud that the Village Hospital is focusing on the most challenging goal - to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels."

Item Last Modified On: December 22, 2008 11:20 AM

Tree-trimming ceremony honors organ, tissue donors

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: December 1, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

LifePoint, South Carolina’s Organ Procurement Organization will host a holiday tree-trimming ceremony at Spartanburg Regional Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m. The event, held in the Montgomery Tower Lobby, is open to the media.

Organ and tissue donor families will come together and place personally selected ornaments on the tree to remember and honor their loved ones during the holiday season. They will join with recipients, hospital staff members, LifePoint staff members and other guests in a celebration of those who have saved and improved lives through donation. The ceremonies, complete with emotional tributes, music and refreshments, will also honor the hospital staff.

Item Last Modified On: December 1, 2008 5:14 PM

Pediatric Rehabilitation celebrates the holidays

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: December 1, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional Pediatric Rehabilitation staff, patients and their families will celebrate the department’s eleventh annual holiday party on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. in the Regional Outpatient Center on Church Street. The event is open to the media.

Sponsored by the Judy Bradshaw Children’s Foundation, more than 375 children who receive physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy are invited to this year’s celebration. Along with refreshments, face painting, games and pictures with Santa, each patient receives a gift specific to his or her need. Pediatric Rehabilitation staff shop weeks in advance to handpick a gift that will benefit each child.

“The uniqueness of this event is that each child receives a gift that was individually chosen to help him or her progress towards his or her goals and to help them become as independent and functional as possible,” said Tracie Rodak, PT, Pediatric Rehabilitation Manager.

This year’s event is particularly special because it recognizes Judy Bradshaw’s continual dedication to serve local children.

“It is heartwarming to see the smiles on the faces of these special children and their families as we spread holiday cheer,” Rodak said. “This holiday party is made possible each year by the love and generosity of the Judy Bradshaw Foundation.”

Item Last Modified On: April 17, 2009 11:25 AM

Spartanburg Regional to host event on women's health

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional will host “Sharing Secrets: Secrets to Complete Control” at 6 – 8 p.m. on November 11 in the Spartanburg County Library’s Barrett Room.

Susan Marik, M.D., from Piedmont Women’s Healthcare will answer all your questions about pelvic health. Tina Collier from Curves will lead a health and fitness demonstration. The event is free, and online registration is available at regionalwomenshealth.com.

Chronic pelvic pain, dropped organs and urinary incontinence are all common issues related to overall pelvic health. Urinary incontinence is the most common pelvic health issue.

Millions of adults in the United States have urinary incontinence. It's most common in people over 50 years old, especially women. But it can also affect younger people, especially women who have just given birth.

While approximately 80 percent of women with urinary incontinence can be cured, most women are unaware of why they should discuss this, and other pelvic health concerns, with their doctor.

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. This means that you can't always control when you urinate. Urinary incontinence can range from leaking a small amount of urine (such as when coughing or laughing) to having very strong urges to urinate that are difficult to control. This can be embarrassing, but it can be treated. Learning about the signs, symptoms and treatment options is the first step to ensure you take control of your pelvic health.

Causes of urinary incontinence include:
• For women, thinning and drying of the skin in the vagina or urethra, especially after menopause
• For men, enlarged prostate gland or prostate surgery
• Weakened and stretched pelvic muscles after childbirth
• Certain medicines
• Build-up of stool in the bowels
• Overweight and obesity, which increases pressure on the bladder and muscles that control the bladder
• Urinary tract infections
• Vascular disease
• Diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation awards more than $280,000 in grants

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation has awarded more than $280,000 in grants to a variety of community organizations.

Since 1994, the Foundation has awarded funding tri-annually to healthcare-related projects and agencies that support the hospital’s mission to provide quality care to the community. Funding is also available to community-based organizations seeking to launch health-related projects.

“Our Regional Foundation Board of Trustees members are overwhelmed by the generosity of our many donors in the hospital system and community who make it possible for us to support these, and many other, worth while projects,” said Terrell Sovey, Chairman of the SRHS Foundation’s Board. “Whether funding a hospital-based patient education activity or helping to create a community health program, we are proud that these grants support our mission, which is ‘To give for life.’”

Organizations are invited to submit applications during one of three grant cycles. The applications are then reviewed by a committee comprised of board members, community leaders and physicians. Committee members research the programs and compile a report detailing how the program functions and what its needs are. They then reconvene to decide whether to recommend funding.

These recommendations are presented to the hospital’s Board for final approval.

The SRHS Foundation is a charitable corporation whose primary mission is to benefit the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System through direct support of the SRHS and also through its support of community programs and services that share the SRHS mission of delivering providing quality health care to our community.

A total of $287,947 was awarded to 13 organizations. The projects ranged from educational opportunities for community members and physicians, to organizations seeking to implement advanced technology.

The following programs received funding this cycle:

Warfarin (Coumadin) Patient Safety Education Project
Project aims to create a consumer friendly booklet designed to educate patients about safe use of Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. Booklet is intended to be used for teaching purposes both during hospitalization and after patient has been discharged.

JC Stroble Glaucoma Awareness
Funding will be used by the J.C. Stroble Foundation to organize a walk-a-thon. The event is designed to raise awareness for the fight against glaucoma.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg
Organization will use the funding to purchase computer equipment necessary for data submission in order to comply with the requirements of the South Carolina Child Advocacy Medical Response System.

Why Do We Wait
Funds will be used to support clients as they go through the process of addiction recovery. The organization’s ultimate goal is sustained success for each client so that they can become responsible, healthy, and productive members within their families and communities.

Rehab Services
Funding will be used to purchase an RT300 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycle to help with neurological rehabilitation. This equipment can help individuals who are paralyzed move their extremities by providing neuromuscular stimulation.

Pediatric Rehabilitation
Project will fund a highly specialized continuing education course for 10 therapists in the Pediatric Rehabilitation department entitled “NDT/Bobath Certificate Course in the Management and Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Other Neuromotor Diseases”.

Road to Better Health
Funding will support the Road to Better Health Conference, which is designed to prioritize the healthcare issues currently facing Spartanburg County and to develop an implementation plan to address the most pressing healthcare issues for the next three years.

Prevention of Teen Pregnancy
Program is designed to help battle the rise of teen pregnancy in Spartanburg County by implementing a Peer Pregnancy program. The program will specifically target Spartanburg School District 7.

Eye Movement Desensitization
Funding will be used to provide training for 5 psychotherapists working in SRHS Behavioral Health Services. Program will educate these psychotherapists on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), the treatment of choice for emotional, mental, and behavioral impairments resulting from military exposure to trauma in Iraq or Afghanistan. Hospital will be the first in the upstate to offer this treatment.

The Haven
Funding will be used to upgrade the kitchen for this shelter for women, children, and families. Completion of this project will expand the organization’s capacity to provide healthy and nutritious foods on a consistent basis, as well as enable it to educate its clientele on the practices of healthy lifestyles choices with regard to food.

YMCA of Greater Spartanburg
Organization will use funds to assist the Pine Street YMCA in replacing its current, inefficient complex, with a new, state-of-the-art building.

West View Elementary
Funding will be used to assist West View Elementary in building a fitness trail on campus. The trail will be designed to connect to other trails in the area.

Free2play at Miracle Park
Funding will be used to create a playground where disabled children can play together and will provide a location where Spartanburg Regional Pediatric Rehabilitation patients can spend time together as a family and socialize with peers.

New Chief Financial Officer begins job in December

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Mark Aycock touts healthcare system’s strong financial performance

Spartanburg Regional will soon welcome a new Chief Financial Officer. Mark Aycock, currently serving as CFO for Emory Hospitals in Atlanta, is slated to begin serving in his new post this December.

Aycock represents a wealth of experience in healthcare finance, and will add a new dimension to Spartanburg Regional’s administrative team, said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO.

“Mark’s professional credentials are exemplary,” Angermeier said. “But even more impressive is his understanding of the philosophies guiding our mission here at Spartanburg Regional. Having Mark Aycock at our table is important to those of us dedicated to good stewardship of revenue. That translates into better, more comprehensive patient care.”

Spartanburg Regional is a progressive healthcare system in a progressive community, and that’s what makes this move so exciting for Aycock, he said.

“I was very impressed with the leadership and the system’s past success,” Aycock said. “My wife and I are attracted to the lifestyle offered by Spartanburg and the beauty of the Upstate.” Spartanburg Regional’s strong fiscal position is a credit to the organization, particularly in light of the sluggish economy, Aycock said.

“I’m pleased to be joining a healthcare system with a strong balance sheet, as well as a track record of sound financial management,” he said. “Viewed against the backdrop of the recent financial crisis, I think Spartanburg Regional is well prepared to deal with new challenges that could potentially surface due to changes in the economy.”

Three of the nation’s top financial ratings agencies recently gave Spartanburg Regional high marks. Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s each assigned the healthcare system top ratings for superior financial performance.

Before joining Emory, Aycock served as CFO at Bon Secours – St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Charleston.

Aycock succeeds Larry Barnette, who retired earlier this year.

Board of Trustees installs new chairman

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. Dan Maultsby has assumed chairmanship of the Spartanburg Regional Board of Trustees.

A former senior vice president and dean of Wofford College, Maultsby will preside over the 11-member board and serve as a liaison between its community-based appointees and members of the hospital’s administration. Maultsby said the board is comprised of local leaders who are committed to the long-term health and vitality of the community’s not-for-profit healthcare provider.

“Many citizens volunteer within the hospitals to provide personal attention to make experiences of patients and families of patients as convenient and positive as possible,” Maultsby said. “These many volunteers, on boards and committees and in the halls of the hospitals, give generously of their time and talents and make essential contributions to the success of Spartanburg Regional.”

Maultsby’s board tenure has been marked by an attention to detail that will aid the healthcare system’s current growth, as well as its future adaptability, said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO.

“Both our community and our healthcare system will benefit from Dan Maultsby’s steady hand; he represents a well-balanced mixture of leadership, wisdom, an understanding of health care and, most important, home-town pride,” Angermeier said. “We know Dr. Maultsby carries an extraordinary vision that will allow us to see new phases of strength and development.”

Maultsby succeeds Terry Cash. Named chairman in 2005, Cash will now serve as the board’s vicechairman.

“Terry’s fingerprints can be found on each of our major initiatives,” Angermeier said. “During his time in the chairman’s seat, Spartanburg Regional has experienced a true renaissance of growth. On behalf of all employees and community members, we thank him for his diligence and wise counsel.”

Spartanburg Regional’s greatest assets are a generous community and an army of strong, dedicated clinicians and administrators, Maultsby said, and that support is critical.

“I want to express appreciation also to the donors who have given generous financial support to our facilities through the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation,” Maultsby said. “We are also proud of the performance of our president, administrators and managers, medical doctors, nurses, and other employees. They are qualified and dedicated to giving great care to persons in need of medical service in our community. And, finally, we thank the members of our county council.”

Appointed by Spartanburg County Council, members of the Board of Trustees provide oversight and set policy for the healthcare system.

Spartanburg Regional to host second-annual Heart-In-One Golf Classic

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: July 21, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Proceeds to place automatic external defibrillators in Spartanburg County schools
Spartanburg Regional will host the second-annual Heart-in-One Golf Classic on September 19, at 12:30 p.m. at Carolina Country Club.

Held in honor of Spartanburg Regional’s cardiac rehab patients, the event’s proceeds will be used to place automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs, in Spartanburg schools. The fee is $500 per team of four ($125 per player) and includes greens and cart fees, driving range time, lunch and a “goody bag.” The registration deadline is September 7.

The tournament will follow a Cardiovascular Symposium scheduled for 8 a.m. in the Milliken Room at the Carolina Country Club. Admission to the symposium is $40 for healthcare providers and $30 for healthcare students.

For more information, contact Donna Ivey, tournament chairwoman, at 864-560-4234 or J.T. Smith, symposium chairwoman, at 864-560-8232.

Item Last Modified On: January 20, 2009 4:42 PM

Gibbs Cancer Center to offer head and neck cancer educational event and screening

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Gibbs Cancer Center will offer a free educational event about head and neck cancer 6 p.m. April 16 at the Village at Pelham.

Fritz Butehorn, M.D., will speak about the risk factors, screening and prevention of oral, head and neck cancers.

Those who attend the educational session will be able to sign up for a free head and neck cancer screening to be held the following week.

According to the American Cancer Society, this year more than 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck – which include cancers of the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx - and 7,550 will die.

“When diagnosed very early, oral and other head and neck cancers can be more easily treated without significant complications, and the chances of survival greatly increase,” said Terry Day, M.D., President of the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation. “However, many Americans do not recognize the symptoms of these cancers, which makes screening very important, especially for those who are at high risk, such as tobacco and alcohol users.”

To sign up for the educational session, please visit gibbscancercenter.com.

About Oral, Head and Neck Cancer
Oral, head and neck cancer (OHNC) refers to a variety of cancers that develop in the head and neck region, such as the oral cavity (mouth); the pharynx (throat); paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity; the larynx (voice box); thyroid and salivary glands; the skin of the face and neck; and the lymph nodes in the neck. Common warning signs of OHNC are:
• Red or white patch in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks
• Change in voice or hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks
• Sore throat that does not subside
• Pain or swelling in the mouth or neck that does not subside
• Lump in the neck
Other warning signs that occur during later stages of the disease include:
• Ear pain
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Difficulty breathing

The most effective prevention strategy remains the cessation of risky behaviors such as smoking, use of chewing tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. More than 85 percent of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use, while others may have a relationship to viral causes such as HPV and Epstein-Barr Virus.

Gibbs Cancer Center offers free colonoscopy screening program and colorectal cancer education

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Gibbs Cancer Center now offers a free colonoscopy screening program for patients with symptoms of or at high risk for colorectal cancer.

This program is offered in partnership with the Betty Ann Moore Foundation and local physicians. It is specifically for people who do not have insurance and have a family history of the disease or have symptoms (rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, diarrhea and/or constipation).

Colorectal cancer is the number two cancer killer in the United States, affecting men and women equally. However, with screening and early detection, many of these deaths can be prevented. Most colorectal cancers develop from polyps, which are abnormal growths in the colon. Left undetected, some polyps may develop into cancer. Screening tests can find and remove pre-cancerous polyps before they turn into cancer.

If you or a loved one may qualify for this screening program, please call 864-560-1983 for more information.

Colorectal Cancer Education
Gibbs Cancer Center is also sponsoring two free education events about colorectal cancer in March.

James Dunn, M.D. will speak at 11 a.m. on March 8 at ReGenesis Community Health Center about colorectal cancer prevention.

Thomas Montagne, M.D. will speak at 6 p.m. on March 25 at the Village at Pelham about the silent symptoms of colorectal cancer. Dinner will be provided.

You may register for either event by calling 864-560-7999 or visiting gibbscancercenter.com.

The Marsha and Jimmy Gibbs Regional Cancer Center is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility associated with the National Cancer Institute as a Community Clinical Oncology Program and a pilot site for the Community Cancer Centers Program. GRCC is a proven leader in providing effective cancer treatment through advanced technology, professional expertise and an exceptional level of personalized care. Our oncology program has been recognized by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and by the Joint Commission as offering high quality cancer care.

Spartanburg Regional plans new cancer center in Greer

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Gibbs Cancer Center at the Village at Pelham will feature radiation therapy

GREER — Continuing in its quest to provide the best cancer care available, Spartanburg Regional has announced plans to build a new cancer center here.

Gibbs Cancer Center at the Village at Pelham will offer Upstate residents a more convenient option for quality cancer treatment.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has approved the health system’s application to outfit the 11,000-square-foot facility with a linear accelerator that will be transferred from Gibbs Cancer Center in Spartanburg.

At the core of any cancer program is radiation therapy, which is administered with a linear accelerator. Because this equipment serves as the centerpiece of any cancer center’s radiation therapy offerings, healthcare systems must first seek approval from the State of South Carolina before a linear accelerator can be installed.

A satellite of the award-winning Gibbs Cancer Center on Spartanburg Regional’s campus, the $7 million center will be outfitted with the latest cancer-fighting equipment needed to provide Gibbs’ trademark multi-disciplinary care.

“The promise of world-class cancer care will soon be a reality for patients who recognize the quality treatment for which Gibbs Cancer Center is known,” said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional. “From this new facility in Greer, we will offer the latest treatment options on state-of-the-art equipment, and that care will be administered by the very best oncologists, therapists and technicians in the Southeast.”

Spartanburg Regional has a growing patient base in western Spartanburg County. From October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2007, 15.3 percent of Spartanburg Regional’s linear accelerator patients came to Spartanburg from seven zip codes in the Village at Pelham service area.

Spartanburg Regional and Gibbs Cancer Center deliver coordinated care with cases reviewed by an interdisciplinary, independent tumor board prior to treatment. With all components of cancer care available in one location (radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgery and radiology), this board works together, in person, to develop efficient, effective treatment plans tailored for individual patients of Gibbs Cancer Center.

“Patients at Gibbs Cancer Center at the Village at Pelham will have access to the latest clinical trials and the multidisciplinary approach to care that has set us apart from other cancer centers,” said Dr. James Bearden III, Gibbs’ medical director.

Through Gibbs Cancer Center, Spartanburg Regional engages in cancer research driven by patient needs in collaboration with state and national centers. Clinical trials are primarily conducted through Community Clinical Oncology Programs as part of the National Cancer Institute. Gibbs is one of a handful of continually funded clinical research programs that were originally formed in 1983.

The National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) is a three-year pilot program to test the concept of a national network of community cancer centers to expand cancer research a

Spartanburg Regional offers free mammograms to uninsured women

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: February 4, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional has partnered with Susan G. Komen for a Cure to offer free screening mammograms to uninsured women ages 35-46.

The free screenings will be offered by appointment on February 9 and March 15.

The best method of fighting breast cancer is to find it as early as possible when it is easier to treat. All women should begin receiving annual screening mammograms at age 40. Women at high risk for breast cancer should speak with a physician about screening at an earlier age.

To see if you qualify and make an appointment, please call 864-560-7999.

Item Last Modified On: January 20, 2009 4:52 PM

Spartanburg Regional offers free mammograms to uninsured women

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: February 4, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional has partnered with Susan G. Komen for a Cure to offer free screening mammograms to uninsured women ages 35-46.

The free screenings will be offered by appointment on February 9 and March 15.

The best method of fighting breast cancer is to find it as early as possible when it is easier to treat. All women should begin receiving annual screening mammograms at age 40. Women at high risk for breast cancer should speak with a physician about screening at an earlier age.

To see if you qualify and make an appointment, please call 864-560-7999.

Item Last Modified On: December 19, 2008 1:51 PM

Spartanburg Regional Hospice announces 2008 volunteer training sessions

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Volunteer opportunities are available in patient care and non-patient care at Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

Direct care opportunities are available in Spartanburg, Union, Greenville and Cherokee counties. Regional Hospice Home has opportunities available for volunteers to work directly with patients and also opportunities for greeters, office support and events.

January 22 - February 19, 2008 (Direct Care Training)
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Register by January 7

March 4 & March 6, 2008 (Non-Direct Care Training)
Tuesday & Thursday, 9 - 11 a.m.
Register by February 18

May 6 – June 3, 2008 (Direct Care Training)
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9 - 11 a.m.
Register by April 21

September 9 & September 11, 2008 (Non-Direct Care Training)
Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Register by August 19

September 16 – October 14, 2008 (Direct Care Training)
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9 – 11 a.m.
Register by September 2

Please contact Sheila Chapman, Volunteer Coordinator at 560-5636 or schapman@srhs.com for more information or to register. All classes are held at the Regional Hospice Home located at 686 Jeff Davis Drive in Spartanburg.

Spartanburg Regional Ida Thompson Child Development Program earns national accreditation

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The Spartanburg Regional Ida Thompson Child Development Program is one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) — the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

The Child Development Program was established in 1974 and provides child care for the children of hospital employees. The hospital system has found that this benefit increases employee satisfaction and impacts retention.

“NAEYC Accreditation lets our families know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible,” said Linda Lawson, Program Manager.

“The level of care displayed at the Ida Thompson Child Development Center is an expression of the true dedication to quality, professionalism and heart of the center’s staff,” said Ingo Angermeier, President/CEO, Spartanburg Regional. “This accreditation is a validation of the vision and hard work of many.”

To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, the Child Development Program went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the 10 NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 11,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC — approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

“The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. “Spartanburg Regional Child Development Program’s NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As of September 2006, the Association’s revised program standards and criteria have introduced a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.

The NAEYC Accreditation system was created in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs.

Festival of Trees events to raise money for Spartanburg Regional Hospice

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: November 4, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

A fashion show and an auction gala will raise funds for the Spartanburg Regional Hospice patients this week.

On Nov. 7, the Festival of Trees Fashion Show and Luncheon will bring the latest looks to the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park. At 12 p.m., community volunteers will model fashions from Carlisle, Etcetera, Smith and James Men’s Clothing and the Lemon Peel Shoe Parlor. Betsy McMillan will host the event. Tickets are still available at regionalfoundation.com at $35.

On Nov. 10, the Magic of the Lights Auction Gala will be held at 7 p.m. at the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park. The event is semi-formal with a silent auction, live auction, dinner and dancing.

Items in the auction range from teeth whitening and tennis lessons to long weekends and hunting packages. Matt Holiday will serve as auctioneer. Tickets are available for $75 per person at regionalfoundation.com

The Hospice Division of the SRHS Foundation raises funds by sponsoring special events, such as Festival of Trees, to provide additional benefits and services not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or by private insurance to terminally ill patients of Spartanburg Regional Hospice. These funds directly benefit patients and their families and enhance the overall Spartanburg Regional Hospice program.

Funds from the events are deposited into our Special Needs Hospice account. This money is used to give peace of mind, support and comfort to our hospice patients and their families through payment of medications, assistance with utility bills, purchase of nutritional supplements and groceries, providing linens and delivering warm meals at Easter and Thanksgiving holidays.

For more information about these events, please call the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation at 864-560-6727.

Item Last Modified On: January 20, 2009 4:58 PM

Spartanburg Regional publishes Community Benefit numbers

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 22, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

SPARTANBURG — Spartanburg Regional provided more than $130 million in community benefits in 2006. These figures are part of a statewide report released by the South Carolina Hospital Association Oct. 22.

The Healthy Hospitals / Healthy Lives: SCHA 2007 Hospital Community Benefits Report includes information from 65 of SCHA’s member hospitals on free or reduced fee services provided to South Carolinians. It is significant because for the first time hospitals have quantified the economic impact of community benefits they provide to communities. The report indicates statewide, 65 SCHA member hospitals provided traditional and nontraditional community benefit services to more than 4.8 million people valued at more than $1.3 billion in 2006.

Traditional community benefits are uncompensated care costs and include health care services provided to patients who are unable to pay as well as the unreimbursed costs of government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. Nontraditional community benefits are programs and services offered by South Carolina’s hospitals out in the community — beyond hospital walls — to improve health status or increase access to care.

“Spartanburg Regional believes in taking care of its community, and the figures in our report reflect that dedication,” said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional. “Through screenings and education, we hope to establish, grow and maintain a community presence that encourages residents to feel empowered and in control of their health and, ultimately, their lives.”

For a copy of statewide report, Healthy Hospitals / Healthy Lives: SCHA 2007 Hospital Community Benefits Report, visit www.scha.org.

Item Last Modified On: January 20, 2009 4:59 PM

Ambulatory Surgery Center of Spartanburg receives accreditation

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 22, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Status as an accredited organization means the Ambulatory Surgery Center has passed a series of rigorous and nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care, set by the Accreditation Association. More than 3,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC.

“Accreditation underscores our long-standing commitment to providing the highest possible levels of quality care to the community we serve,” said Mike Pankey, Administrator of the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Spartanburg. “We are pleased and proud to have our efforts recognized with this accreditation.”

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive on-site, peer-based survey of its facilities and services. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all undergoing the on-site survey are granted accreditation.

Among the types of ambulatory health care organizations that can seek the AAAHC accreditation are ambulatory and office-based surgery centers, single and multi-specialty group practices, college health centers, dental group practices, community health centers, occupational health centers and managed care organizations.

Item Last Modified On: January 20, 2009 5:00 PM

Safe Kids Spartanburg urges parents and caregivers to get their child safety seats inspected

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed in vehicles according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s why Safe Kids Spartanburg is urging all parents and caregivers to attend the Second Annual “National Seat Check Saturday,” on Saturday Sept. 20. As part of National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 21 to 27) Safe Kids Spartanburg will have certified technicians available to provide free on-site child safety seat inspections from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Farrell Chevrolet in Spartanburg .

“It’s the responsibility of every parent and caregiver out there to make sure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Penny Shaw, Safe Kids Spartanburg coordinator. “We are urging everyone to get their child safety seats inspected. When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.”

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, 8,325 lives of children under age 5 have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 30 years. In 2006, among children under 5, an estimated 425 lives were saved by child restraint use. Research shows that child restraints provide the best protection for all children up to age 8; after age 8 seat belts provide the best protection.

For maximum child passenger safety, Penny Shaw said parents and caregivers should refer to the following 4 Steps for Kids guidelines for determining which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on age and size:

1. For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds.

2. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).

3. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall).

4. When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall) they can use the adult seat belts in the back seat, if they fit properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).

For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, a national effort to remind parents and caregivers of the lifesaving effect child safety seats have in protecting young children, please visit www.nhtsa.gov <http://www.nhtsa.gov/>.

Gibbs Cancer Center to sponsor events for breast cancer survivors

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: September 15, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Gibbs Cancer Center will hold “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ ” and “The Joyful Path” as special programs for breast cancer survivors.

Breast cancer can change a woman’s outlook on intimacy. Mary Hughes, RN, from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center will conduct a free educational program at 12 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Gibbs Cancer Center to address these issues for breast cancer survivors and a guest. Hughes is a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist.

Breast cancer survivor Hollie Walker will lead a fun and interactive program at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Gibbs Cancer Center. The focus will be on reducing stress and finding joy in difficult situations.

Both of these events include a meal and require registration by visiting gibbscancercenter.com or calling 560-6747.

According to the National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there at $9.8 million cancer survivors in the United States. Twenty-two percent of these survivors are breast cancer survivors.

Item Last Modified On: December 19, 2008 1:58 PM

Spartanburg Regional announces the completion of the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Officials predict facility will be viewed as national model for multidisciplinary breast cancer care

SPARTANBURG — Before an enthusiastic crowd of clinicians, local leaders and community benefactors, the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health officially opened Thursday.

A state-of-the-art imaging center featuring digital mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast MRI and bone densitometry, Bearden-Josey provides all of these services from one easily accessible outpatient location.

The new center provides a seamless multidisciplinary experience for breast health services in a single location, providing women all breast health services with significantly reduced wait times. The 16,000-square-foot facility features gardens, a fountain, original artwork and large airy spaces formed by vast expanses of glass.

The facility is being named in honor of Drs. James D. Bearden III and Julian C. Josey Jr., local physicians specializing in cancer care.

“Treatment and, more pointedly, prevention of breast cancer, requires a delicate, albeit bold mixture of many different disciplines and sciences,” said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO. “The Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health will stand as a lasting and evolving example of collaboration.

Drs. Jay Bearden and Julian Josey long ago realized the importance of teamwork. By fusing the elements of varied approaches to cancer treatment, be they radiation or medical oncology, radiology or surgery, they helped create a new way of communicating with a disease they are continually learning to combat.”

Bearden said the center’s mission will be to increase awareness and catch breast cancer in its early stages.

“The breast center is an instrument of hope: through early detection and diagnosis, we will soon be treating breast cancer with the most proactive model available in the Southeast,” Bearden said. “But just as important, I believe, is the effort to marshal all the available resources and to express the sharp focus we all know is required to stop this disease in its tracks.”

“Survivorship” is the guiding force behind the center, Josey said.

“One of the more meaningful things in the evolution of cancer care over my career has been the awareness of the importance of survivorship in our overall treatment plan,” Josey said. “It goes to the heart of what great cancer centers are all about, and it encompasses more than just the treatment protocols and rigors of our various therapies. It has to do with the quality of life for our patients and their families.”

The center was funded with the help of a $2.5 million gift from Billy and Lindsay Webster of Spartanburg. Lindsay Webster, a breast cancer survivor, shared the vision of Bearden and Josey to construct a breast center that would be easily accessible, convenient and a calming environment for women enduring the stress of awaiting a diagnosis.

“It’s incredibly rewarding that something so personally devastating has created something so wonderful for the community,” Lindsay Webster said. “Billy and I simply shared an idea; it’s the hospital, the doctors and healthcare professionals who brought the center to fruition. All we did is plant the seed. Everyone else on this fantastic team brought it to reality.”

Mammography is vital to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages when it is most treatable. The severity of breast cancer is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. At Bearden-Josey, breast cancer tumors can be found by mammography screening prior to being felt by a physical exam.

If mammogram results indicate further testing is needed, these tests will be scheduled at the patient’s convenience in the center. Should a woman receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, she will have the option of having her case presented in a multidisciplinary conference to obtain a full treatment plan from all care disciplines.

Donors like the Websters are an integral part of bringing the latest and greatest care to the community, like screening mammography, said Terrell Sovey, chairman of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation Board of Trustees.

“This Bearden Josey Breast Health Center is the culmination of many individuals from the community pulling together and contributing to the future welfare of our citizens,” Sovey said. “We at the SRHS Foundation are most humble and grateful for the successful efforts of our many community contributors who brought this project to reality. Bearden-Josey now takes its place among other important Foundation projects at Regional, including: the Montgomery Tower, Emergency Center, Gibbs Cancer Center, and Hospice Home. Together, the Spartanburg Regional and the SRHS Foundation are bringing quality health care for life to our community.”

There will be an estimated 2,600 new cases of breast cancer this year in South Carolina according to the American Cancer Society. It also estimates that only 56 percent of women over 40 in South Carolina have had an annual mammogram as recommended.

Officials made countless trips to study some of the nation’s best multi-specialty clinics. The result, said Dr. Larry Warren, is a combination of the greatest elements from those facilities.

“We traveled across the country, visiting breast centers, and the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health represents the best elements of those centers we viewed,” said Warren, a radiologist and director of breast imaging. “I think our center will soon be known as a national model for multidisciplinary care of breast cancer.”

The facility will open to the public on Sept. 8. To make an appointment for a mammogram or to inquire about our mammography assistance program, please call 560-7777.

Spartanburg Regional, SRHS Foundation host employee art exhibit

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: August 18, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Event highlights combination of arts, modern medicine in state’s only installation of national show The Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation Healing Arts Program will highlight the artwork of Spartanburg Regional employees and their families Sept. 10 to Oct. 7 as part of the second annual National Arts Program exhibition and competition.

The exhibit will be open to the public between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily in the Montgomery Tower Lobby and will feature paintings, photography, watercolors, sculpture, crafts and other visual works by Spartanburg Regional staff and their families. The competition is divided into five skill categories, including youth less than 12, youth 12-18 and adult amateur, intermediate and professional. Cash prizes totaling $2,400 will be awarded to the top three winners in each level. A “Best of Show” will also be awarded.

Daniel Cromer will judge the competition. An acclaimed watercolorist who has exhibited in Europe and Japan, Cromer currently lives and works in Spartanburg and Beaufort.

This program is being brought to the hospital as a part of the SRHS Foundation Healing Arts Program. A collaboration of The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg and Spartanburg Regional, the Healing Arts Program combines the soothing powers of the creative arts with modern medicine. The program uses visual, performing and literary art activities to comfort patients and their families during their treatment.

The National Arts Program Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide individuals of every artistic skill level a forum to expand and showcase their talent in the visual arts, fostering in turn a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Now reaching more than 450 cities in 43 states and the District of Columbia in 83 annual venues, the program was established in 1983. Spartanburg Regional was the first and remains the only venue in South Carolina to be included in the program.

The SRHS Foundation is a charitable corporation whose primary mission is to benefit the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System through direct support of SRHS and also through its support of community programs and services that share the SRHS mission of providing quality healthcare to our community.

Item Last Modified On: October 15, 2008 10:05 AM

Spartanburg Regional boasts five of 10 registered interventional radiation technologists in South Carolina

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Calloway, Gardinier, Ivey, Mundey and Petty certified

The Interventional Radiology technical staff at Spartanburg Regional recently passed the Vascular-Interventional Radiology Registry. Tonya Calloway, Brad Gardinier, Kelly Ivey, Pam Mundey and Kelly Petty make up five of the 10 vascular-interventional radiologic technologists in South Carolina.

Vascular-Interventional Radiology Registry is a post-primary certification given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. It promotes high standards of patient care by recognizing qualified individuals in interventional radiology and medical imaging.

Eligibility for certification requires maintained registration in the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, clinical experience consisting of 50 vascular-interventional procedures and a comprehensive examination.

“We strive to stay up to date on the latest developments in our field and to provide excellent care to our patients,” Petty said. “We are proud of what we do and the care we give our patients. To receive a smile, a laugh and a thank you from a patient, even when he or she doesn’t feel well, means you’ve done your job and that you’ve done it well.”

Calloway, Gardinier, Ivey and Mundey, RT(R)(VI), are registered technologists (RT) in radiology (R) and vascular-interventional (VI). Petty, RT(R)(M)(VI), is registered in three areas: radiology, mammography (M) and vascular-interventional.

Upon passing the Vascular-Interventional Radiology Registry, individuals must maintain registration by earning 24 continuing education credits every two years.

“The completion of these advanced registries is in line with Spartanburg Regional’s Mission and Vision, as well as the Department of Imaging Service’s commitment to quality service at the highest level,” said Noel Rhodes, Director of Imaging Services at Spartanburg Regional. “All Imaging management, technical, and nursing personnel are required to acquire and maintain credentials consistent with their position.”

Surgeon makes elite list reserved for nation's best cancer liaison physicians

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. Robert Cochran among 55 U.S. doctors recognized by the Commission on Cancer

A Spartanburg Regional surgeon has been named by the Commission on Cancer to an elite list reserved for the nation’s best cancer liaison physicians. Dr. Robert Cochran is among only 55 doctors in the country to receive the Cancer Liaison Physician Outstanding Performance Award, according to commission officials.

“This award recognizes physicians who go above and beyond expectations to improve direction to the cancer program,” read a letter from the office of Frederick L. Greene, the commission’s chair, to Cochran. “We at the Commission are certainly proud of your achievements and applaud you for your considerable efforts.”

The listing represents Cochran’s commitment to improving cancer care with an eye towards continually honing the already-world-class program at Gibbs Cancer Center, said Dr. James D. Bearden III, Gibbs’ medical director.

“Recognition of quality is the hallmark of the Commission on Cancer,” Bearden said. “Our success in the Commission on Cancer program hinges on the commitment and expertise of physicians like Dr. Robert Cochran. He is a champion for our cause and this reward for his service reminds us all of his dedication.”

Cochran was instrumental in recent recognition of Gibbs’ cancer program — also by the Commission on Cancer — in 2007, said David Church, vice president of oncology services at Spartanburg Regional.

“Gibbs Cancer Center is the only facility in the state to receive the Commission on Cancer’s Outstanding Achievement Award,” Church said. “It’s fitting that Dr. Cochran be recognized for his role in that success by being placed among these very fine doctors from across the country as one of the best cancer liaison physicians.”

The 55 physicians given the Cancer Liaison Physician Outstanding Performance Award were selected among 1,600 doctors represented in the Commission on Cancer’s national network.

“I am honored to have received this award,” Cochran said. “The Commission on Cancer is dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. I am very proud to be associated with such a dedicated, enthusiastic, highly trained medical and administrative staff as we have at Spartanburg Regional and Gibbs Cancer Center. Through the years, and with much hard work, they have created an outstanding, nationally recognized cancer center.”

The core functions of the Commission on Cancer include setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 Commission on Cancer standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state and local level. For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit www.facs.org/ cancer/index.htm.

The Marsha and Jimmy Gibbs Cancer Center is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility associated with the National Cancer Institute (one of the 50 original sites for a Community Clinical Oncology Program, or CCOP). Gibbs is a proven leader in providing effective cancer treatment through advanced technology, professional expertise and an exceptional level of personalized care. The oncology program has also been recognized by the Joint Commission as offering high quality cancer care. Visit www.gibbscancercenter.com for more information.

Spartanburg Regional commended for quality in national hospital demonstration

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: July 28, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Awarded more than $90,000 in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services incentive payment Spartanburg Regional was recently recognized as a top performing hospital in the Premier HospitalQuality Incentive Demonstration Project.

Based upon its quality performance in the third year of the
demonstration, Spartanburg Regional was awarded a quality incentive payment of $92,128.

Pioneered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the demonstration project aims to improve the quality of inpatient care in several clinical areas, including heart attack, heart failure, hip and knee replacements, pneumonia and coronary artery bypass graft. CMS awards participating top
performing hospitals by increasing their payment for Medicare patients in high performing diagnostic categories.

Among the participating hospitals, Spartanburg Regional ranked in the top 20 percent for superior quality care of heart failure and hip and knee replacements.

“This represents a combined effort on the part of numerous physicians, departments and individual employees to improve the outcomes of our patients,” said Mary Jane Jennings, Vice President for Perioperative and Quality Services. “Changes in care to these groups of patients are spread throughout the facility to benefit many others. The Medical Staff and employees of Spartanburg Regional are committed to providing high quality care to the populations we serve.”

Item Last Modified On: October 12, 2008 8:13 PM

Graves receives award for career, technical educators

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Student Program Coordinator at Spartanburg Regional recognized for commitment to healthcare
education, Gloria Graves, Student Program Coordinator at Spartanburg Regional, recently received the Award of Merit from the South Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education.

The award honors organizations or individuals who demonstrate a commitment to career and
technical education through sponsored programs, publications, financial support and other activities.
Each year, Graves facilitates more than 1,000 shadowing, career exploration and observation
experiences within the healthcare system for grammar school, junior high, high school and college students.

“This award recognizes Spartanburg Regional’s commitment to providing career exploration
opportunities for students interested in pursuing healthcare careers,” Graves said. “Spartanburg
Regional remains committed to making sure students, teachers and parents are educated on the
numerous careers available in healthcare.”

Spartanburg Regional gets high marks in finance world

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s assign top ratings to healthcare system. Three of the nation’s top financial ratings agencies have given Spartanburg Regional high marks.

Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s have each assigned the healthcare system top ratings for superior financial performance. The ratings express the financial sector’s confidence in Spartanburg Regional’s business position and debt service recovery program, officials said. Each agency cited the system’s ability to remain solvent
in uncertain economic times. That solvency, said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional, represents the healthcare system’s commitment to patient care with the good
stewardship of its revenue.

The financial performance of a not-for-profit hospital translates into more options for the provision of care, he said. “It is our responsibility to reinvest in our community,” Angermeier said. “Spartanburg Regional believes that our patients, and the folks who live in our service area, are our shareholders. In a not for-profit world, this basic tenet guides everything we do.”

In addition to strict, strategic financial maintenance, the ratings agencies also recognized Spartanburg
Regional’s many relationships with global clinical leaders, including M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the National Cancer Institute and even the U.S. Department of Defense with its “Hospital of the Future” program.

“When the M. D. Andersons’ and other well-respected organizations show an interest in what we do, and how we do it, it is a testament to our efforts,” said Terry Cash, Chairman of Spartanburg
Regional’s Board of Trustees. And that collaboration with world-renowned partners showcases commitment on the local level, too.

“Without the support and keen insight of our local leaders, this very positive financial diagnosis
wouldn’t be possible,” Angermeier said. “This success is a result of the collaboration of Spartanburg County Council and the Spartanburg Regional Board of Trustees.”

The agencies asked specific questions regarding governance structure, industry best practices and
public hospital benchmarks for board selection.
“Thanks to the leadership of County Council and the Board, the system received high marks in all of
these areas, resulting in these great ratings,” Angermeier said.

Spartanburg Regional offers "Scams Targeting Seniors"

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional, in partnership with AARP and the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, is offering a workshop called “Scams Targeting Seniors” on July 29 at 2 p.m. at the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Pattie Guthrie from the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs and Catherine Angus from the South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office will be speaking at the workshop about what you can do to protect yourself and your family from the growing number of scams and fraud targeted towards the senior population in the South Carolina area.

Among the topics being discussed are Medicare discount card scams, charity scams, prizes and sweepstakes scams, counterfeit drug scams, funeral and cemetery fraud, telemarketing fraud, magazine subscription scams and Nigerian letter or “419” fraud.

Registration will begin at 1:30 to 2 p.m. and the program will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Then there will be a question and answer section held from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

The Hospice Home is located at 686 Jeff Davis Drive.

Call 577-4068 to reserve a seat. Registration is limited.

Flandry selected as Chief Medical Officer

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Local neurosurgeon brings clinical expertise and leadership to the role, CEO says.

Dr. Robert Edward Flandry Jr. has been named Chief Medical Officer of Spartanburg Regional.

Flandry, a neurosurgeon, received his M.D. degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine.

He most recently served as the chief of Spartanburg Regional’s neurosurgery division.

Flandry’s leadership and experience were attractive to the search committee, which included physicians, medical staff leaders and administrators, according to Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional.

“Dr. Flandry brings a wealth of clinical experience, a deep commitment to the community and its patients, and a compelling intellect to this critical role,” Angermeier said. “He will most certainly add great energy as we pursue the strategic direction of Spartanburg Regional.”

He served as Chief of Staff at Spartanburg Regional from 1999 to 2000.

"I am both honored and humbled to have been nominated and chosen by my peers to assume the position of Chief Medical Officer at Spartanburg Regional,” Flandry said. “While I will miss the clinical practice of neurosurgery, I look forward to working with the hospital administration and the Medical Staff to ensure that Spartanburg Regional Medical Center continues to offer the highest level of medical care to all of its patients with outcomes that are second to none across the Carolinas."

Flandry completed his medical internship at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans and finished his neurosurgery residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Study confirms PET scan has major impact on management of cancer patient care

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional participates in nationwide study

Spartanburg, S.C. – According to a study of data from the National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) published online March 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), clinicians changed the intended care of more than one in three cancer patients as the result of PET scan findings.

Spartanburg Regional is one of more than 1,200 facilities participating in the registry that contributed PET scan data analyzed for the study on nearly 23,000 patients.

The National Oncologic PET Registry was launched in May 2006 in response to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ new “Coverage with Evidence Development” policy to collect data through a clinical registry to inform the center’s FDG-PET coverage determination decisions for currently non-covered cancer indications. Sponsored by the Academy of Molecular Imaging and managed by the American College of Radiology and the ACR Imaging Network, the registry collects questionnaire data from referring physicians on intended patient management before and after a PET scan.

As an National Oncologic PET Registry participating facility, Spartanburg Regional collects both a pre-PET questionnaire (documenting study indication, cancer type and anticipated stage, and planned management if PET were not available) and one of several post-PET questionnaires that assess the referring physician’s planned management in light of the PET findings. Spartanburg Regional joined the registry in June 2006.

Analysis of registry data reported in the JCO article found that FDG-PET is associated with a 36.5 percent change in the decision of whether or how to treat a patient’s cancer.

“We are pleased to participate in this innovative project and to learn of these positive initial results regarding the important role PET plays in the management of patient care,” said Bill Joyce, M.D., medical director of nuclear medicine and PET/CT

Medicare currently covers PET scans of cancer of the ovary, uterus, prostate, pancreas, stomach, kidney and bladder only if a patient is enrolled in the registry. (For a complete list of NOPR covered cancer types and indications, go to www.cancerpetregistry.org.)

“These results are very encouraging. The more we know about a patient’s cancer, the better we can determine the best possible care options,” said Julian C. Josey, M.D., medical director of radiation oncology and referring physician.

NOPR has formally asked Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider the current National Coverage decision on PET and to end the data collection requirements for diagnosis, staging and restaging. Medicare will review the published data and determine the next steps related to reimbursement for PET scans now only covered through the registry.

Spartanburg Regional was the first hospital to offer full-time PET-CT services in the Upstate.

PET imaging is a test that images the function of cells to show differences between healthy tissue and diseased tissue. It uses a small amount of a radioactive chemical that is combined with sugar. A PET-CT adds the imaging capabilities of a CT-scan. PET is used to evaluate various neurological and cardiac disorders, as well as for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring the treatment of many different cancers.

PET/CT is a vital part of treatment planning for radiation therapy as cancer specialists target tumors far more accurately and are able to electronically fuse these images to better outline a tumor.

Time is Brain

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Individuals should seek immediate care for stroke symptoms, local experts say
Spartanburg Regional’s Stroke program is encouraging the community to learn the risk factors, signs and symptoms of stroke, and recognize that stroke is a medical emergency.

As the third leading cause of death in the United States, more than 700,000 strokes occur in the country each year. In recognition of Stroke Awareness Month, Spartanburg Regional wants individuals to know the facts that can save their lives in a stroke emergency.

"Individuals should remember to act F.A.S.T. (Does one side of the person’s face droop, does one arm drift downward, are words slurred? If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important)," said Dr. Carol A. Kooistra. “Recognize the stroke symptoms and get to the Emergency Center fast by calling 911; time is brain.”

Healthcare providers stress that a stroke is a medical emergency, and anyone exhibiting symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of stroke include sudden:

• Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech;
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or
• Severe headache with no known cause.

"Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stroke, calling 911 and getting to the nearest hospital immediately is crucial in preventing long term disability or death," said Debby Bridgeman, R.N., B.S.N., Spartanburg Regional’s Stroke Clinical Case Manager. "The good news is that stroke is both preventable and treatable," Bridgeman said. "With the exception of family history, you can control many risk factors related to stroke."

Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can lead to partial or complete paralysis, emotional disorders and problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment and memory.

The American Stroke Association suggests that managing high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen can all contribute to reducing the risk of stroke. Spartanburg Regional is the first healthcare provider in South Carolina to be named a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, which serves as the gold standard for measuring excellence in national care. The Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. For more information, visit spartanburgregional.com.

For more information, contact Chad Lawson.

Family Medicine Residency Program honors best and brightest at graduation

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

11 graduates receive diplomas, awards

The Spartanburg Family Medicine Residency Program presented awards to its top residents and teachers at a recent graduation ceremony.

A three-year training program, the curriculum prepares young physicians to become knowledgeable, compassionate family doctors, said Otis L. Baughman III, M.D., director of the program.

Excelling in a rigorous program requiring more than 65 hours of training per week, the 11 graduates epitomized what Baughman called “exceptional ability, character and desire.” The awards honored outstanding residents, research projects and teachers.

A Resident Teacher of the Year Award was also presented to one resident from each of the three years of training.

“The winners of these awards represent the best of the best in a residency program filled with exceptional young physicians,” Baughman said. “All of us who teach feel great pride in these young physicians' abilities and accomplishments. When you see the quality of care and the abundance of heart that these young professionals possess, you can only feel confident that the future of family medicine and our nation's healthcare are in great hands."

The Family Medicine Residency program at Spartanburg Regional accepts 12 residents per year. The current residents come from the best medical schools in the region, as well as from top schools from across the United States. The Family Medicine program is Spartanburg Regional’s largest residency program, but the medical center offers General Surgery and Transitional Year residency programs, as well.

Family Medicine Residency award winners

1. Outstanding Service as Family Medicine Chief Residents
Reetu Grewal, MD, and Brett Winkeler, MD

2. Outstanding First Year Resident on the OB/GYN Service
Kristen Iagulli, MD

3. Outstanding Second Year Resident on the OB/GYN Service
Evelyn Rawcliffe, DO

4. Rubel Award for Outstanding Performance on the OB/GYN Service
Thomas Gary, MD

5. Outstanding Resident in Emergency Medicine
Kristen Iagulli, MD

6. Outstanding Resident on the Pediatric Service
Crystal Bailey, MD

7. First-Year Resident Pharmacotherapy Award
Josh DeFriece, MD

8. Outstanding Research Project Award
Crystal Bailey, MD, and Thomas Gary, MD

9. Family Medicine Resident of the Year
Jermaine Joefield, MD

10. Medical Education Teacher of the Year Award
Ifekan-Shango Simon, MD

11. Community Teacher of the Year Award
Robert Cochran, MD

12. PGY-1 Resident Teacher of the Year
Amy Bailey, MD

13. PGY-2 Resident Teacher of the Year
Matthew Cannon, DO; two-time Resident Teacher of the Year recipient

14. PGY-3 Resident Teacher of the Year
Reetu Grewal, MD; three-time Resident Teacher of the Year recipient

Village Hospital on schedule to open this fall

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

48-bed facility showcases new patient room features

GREER — The Village Hospital is on scheduled to open in October.

The 48-bed facility is located at Westmoreland Road and South Highway 14, near an already-opened medical office building, urgent care facility and ambulatory surgery center at the Village at Pelham.

Special features include maternity rooms with a C-section suite and nursery, operating rooms, an intensive care unit and an emergency room. Patient rooms will feature flat-screen televisions providing patients with interactive options to enhance their stay, as well as collapsible sleeping space for visitors.

In concert with the unique combination of clinical advancements and added comfort features made available to patients and visitors, increased efficiency in the provision of hospital services is also on tap at Village Hospital, said Administrator David Parks.

“Many people at Spartanburg Regional helped design the facility and created processes that will allow us to offer the best services to people in the Pelham area,” Parks said. “Many roles and services will be combined to streamline efficiency, offering opportunities to be creative and progressive.”

The hospital recently held a job fair, recruiting for more than 200 jobs at the new facility.

The Village Hospital serves as the focal point of the Village at Pelham, a new healthcare campus that combines the finest in outpatient health care with acute care resources. For more information, visit www.villageatpelham.com.

Spartanburg Regional to educate women on osteoporosis and healthy living

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional will host “Beauty, Balance and Breath” at 6 p.m. on June 10 at the Spartanburg County Library

This fun event will combine a lively discussion about a health topic many women worry about with practical suggestions for bringing more physical activity into your life. Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle is key to preventing many diseases.

Physical therapist Debbie Cone will speak about osteoporosis treatment and prevention. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, women are four times more likely than men to have this condition. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.

Also, Laura Ringo from Partners for Active Living will discuss fun activities in Spartanburg that promote a healthy and active lifestyle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of US adults do not engage in physical activity at levels consistent with public health recommendations.

This event is a part of the “Get What You Need out of Life” series focusing on women’s health. Registration is available at www.regionalwomenshealth.com.

BMW Pro-Am tickets available from SRHS Foundation

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The SRHS Foundation is selling BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament tickets for $25 with all proceeds benefiting health care in our community.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament will be May 15-18 and is the only tournament on the Nationwide Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals in the three-day best-ball competition.

Patron Credential includes:
•    Admission to all four days of the tournament
•    Admission to all three tournament locations:
    o    Thornblade Club (Thursday thru Sunday – finals on    Sunday only at Thornblade)
    o    The Carolina Country Club (Thursday thru Saturday)
    o    Bright’s Creek Golf Club (Thursday thru Saturday)
•    Complementary parking
•    Shuttle service to and from the parking lots

Visit http://www.bmwusfactory.com/community/golf/celebrities.asp for a list of celebrities at this year’s tournament.

To purchase credentials, visit regionalfoundation.com or call 560-7904.

Spartanburg Regional offers free mammograms to uninsured women

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 28, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional has partnered with Susan G. Komen for a Cure to offer free screening mammograms to uninsured women ages 35-46.

The free screenings will be offered by appointment on May 17.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Mammograms may detect breast cancer up to two years before it can be felt through a breast self-exam.

The best method of fighting breast cancer is to find it as early as possible when it is easier to treat. All women should begin receiving annual screening mammograms at age 40. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer should speak with a physician about screening at an earlier age.

If you do not meet the age requirement of this grant, you may qualify for other programs. To make an appointment, please call 864-560-7999.

Item Last Modified On: October 12, 2008 8:13 PM

Spartanburg Regional offers groundbreaking clinical trial for skin cancer

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Skin cancer patients are being recruited by specialists at Spartanburg Regional to study the effectiveness of Allovectin-7, a new treatment for advanced melanoma.

If found to be safe and effective, the product will offer a new option for fighting stage 3 or stage 4 advanced melanoma. Eligible patients must be at least 18 years old and have recurrent metastatic melanoma with at least one tumor large enough (pea-sized) to inject.

This will be a large, Phase 3 study to see if patients respond favorably to Allovectin-7 rather that current standard chemotherapy alone. Earlier data from a Phase 2 clinical trial were presented at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.

“Cancer cells often evade the body’s natural disease-fighting mechanisms. The challenge in treating advanced melanoma is to find a way to train the immune system to locate and eliminate cancerous cells,” said study investigator James D. Bearden, M.D. “We believe that Allovectin-7 triggers several of the body’s natural immune response mechanisms to recognize and attack the tumors.”

Melanoma is among the fastest-growing cancer indications, rising 3 to 5 percent annually over the past 30 years. The American Cancer Society estimates about 60,000 new cases in 2008 and more than 8,000 deaths from the disease. Risk factors include exposure to sunlight’s ultraviolet radiation and persons having fair skin, a large number of moles, a history of sun tanning or sunburns, or close relatives with melanoma.

Early detection with surgery often cures the disease; however, advanced stage 3 or 4 melanoma usually requires additional intervention such as chemotherapy.

About 375 patients will be enrolled to receive either Allovectin-7 alone or the current standard chemotherapy. Of the enrollees, 67 percent will receive Allovectin-7 and 33 percent will receive chemotherapy. Allovectin-7 will be injected into the tumor weekly for six consecutive weeks. It has been previously administered to more than 700 patients in several multicenter clinical trials.

Participants will be closely monitored to assess disease status, safety and tolerability. Those whose melanoma does not clinically progress will be encouraged to continue the trial and be assessed for up to two years.

To find out whether you or someone you know qualifies for the study, please visit www.melanomatrial.com.

Gibbs Cancer Center offers clinical trials through exclusive partnership with National Cancer Institute

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Colorectal, breast, and lung cancer trials conducted in Spartanburg as part of NCI Community Cancer Centers Program Pilot

Spartanburg Regional is one of 16 community hospitals in 14 states joining in an intensive, coordinated effort to increase enrollment in clinical trials so patients can benefit from the most advanced treatments without having to commute to major cancer centers. These cancer centers offer many clinical trials in a variety of cancers to their patients and have chosen to work together in this effort to expand accrual to three specific NCI-sponsored Cooperative Group treatment trials in colorectal, lung, and breast cancers.

All 16 hospitals are part of the National Cancer Institute’s NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP), a three-year pilot program designed to bring the latest advances in cancer care and research to small-town, rural, and inner-city communities where patients live. A major goal of the pilot is to enroll more cancer patients in clinical trials.

“Clinical trials are carefully designed and developed to test new research questions,” said James D. Bearden, III, M.D. “Clinical trial participants receive high quality care and if a new treatment is proven to work, our patients may be among the first to benefit.”

All new cancer drugs must undergo clinical trials to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be marketed in the United States. If more patients participated, it might speed up this process.

As an initial focus, the NCCCP pilot sites have selected clinical trials appropriate for many members of the community in the three major solid tumor sites. It is anticipated that these efforts will expand to other trials in the future. The three featured trials are:

• Colorectal cancer. For metastatic colon or rectal cancer, this trial is testing the use of two previously approved drugs (Avastin® and Erbitux®) to see if combining them with more than one type of chemotherapy will produce a more effective treatment. For more information: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/CALGB-C80405

• Lung Cancer. This trial investigates the use of Avastin® combined with standard chemotherapy as a follow-up to surgery to see if the new combination will be more effective than standard chemotherapy alone. For more information:
http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinicalTrials.aspx?cdrid=475774&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=4111726

• Breast Cancer. This trial seeks to determine if using letrozole for extended adjuvant therapy will keep women disease free for longer periods. The treatment is for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer who have completed five years of specific hormonal therapies. For more information: http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinicalTrials.aspx?cdrid=502263&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=2879191

The NCCCP pilot was initiated last summer to explore ways of bringing the latest multidisciplinary, research-driven cancer care to more Americans. Most cancer patients—85 percent—receive their care in community hospitals, while only 15 percent choose to go to major cancer research centers. The NCCCP seeks to bring the advantages of the major centers to community hospitals through networking, research linkages, and advanced technology.

The pilot is designed to encourage the collaboration of medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, with close links to NCI research and to the network of 63 NCI-designated Cancer Centers that are principally based at large research universities.

In addition to bringing more patients into clinical trials, the pilot also seeks to:

• Reduce cancer healthcare disparities by reaching underrepresented and underserved patient populations, many of which have unusually high cancer rates.
• Prepare hospitals for standardizing the collection and storage of voluntarily donated tissue samples and other biological specimens for cancer research.
• Link sites to national computer networks that support basic, clinical, and population-based cancer research.

The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov, or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Dingman earns Licensed Independent Social Worker status

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 14, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Gibbs Cancer Center Social Worker Chad Dingman has been certified as a Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice.

Requirements for this certification include 100 hours of direct clinical supervision over a two-year period, coursework in psychopathology, psycho-diagnostics and ethics, and a clinical exam. Clinical social workers are highly trained therapists who assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional conditions.

Dingman works with patients and families to improve their ability to cope with the psychosocial stressors of cancer. Dingman also helps patients and survivors obtain the proper resources to handle the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Item Last Modified On: November 21, 2008 1:15 PM

Spartanburg Regional offers free mammograms to uninsured women

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: March 31, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional has partnered with Susan G. Komen for a Cure to offer free screening mammograms to uninsured women ages 35-46.

The free screenings will be offered by appointment on April 12.

The best method of fighting breast cancer is to find it as early as possible when it is easier to treat. All women should begin receiving annual screening mammograms at age 40. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer should speak with a physician about screening at an earlier age.

If you do not meet the age requirement of this grant, you may qualify for other programs. To make an appointment, please call 864-560-7999.

Item Last Modified On: November 21, 2008 1:19 PM

SRHS Foundation announces 2008 Society of 1921 Gala guest

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: March 31, 2008 12:00 AM
Description:

The Society 1921 announces Cal Ripken, Jr. as its special guest at its annual Donor Appreciation Gala on April 5.

Ripken will tour the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home during the day and then later speak at the evening gala.

Ripken appears in the record books repeatedly and was inducted in to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. He is only one of eight players in history who to achieve 400 home runs and over 3,000 hits. He retired in 2001 after 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

Seven years after retiring, Ripken is still very active in the baseball community. With his combination of hard work and passion he has produced a best selling book on baseball, Play the Ripken Way, constructed a minor league baseball park and even set up his own Ripken Youth Baseball Academy.

Ripken has always placed a strong focus on giving back to the community. In 2001, he and his family established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, in memory of the family's patriarch. The foundation helps teach life lessons through baseball, to disadvantaged youth.

The Society of 1921 annual donors represent consistency and commitment to the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation and its projects. In 2007, guest speakers James Carville and Mary Matalin entertained the crowd with their polar opposite political leanings. Past speakers include New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President and Mrs. George Bush and former anchorman Tom Brokaw.

Item Last Modified On: November 21, 2008 1:20 PM

Spartanburg Regional plans new cancer center in Greer

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Gibbs Cancer Center at the Village at Pelham will offer Upstate residents a more convenient option for quality cancer treatment.

The National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) is a three-year pilot program to test the concept of a national network of community cancer centers to expand cancer research a

Pediatric Rehabilitation patients celebrate 10th annual Christmas party

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: December 3, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional Pediatric Rehabilitation staff, patients and their families will celebrate the department’s tenth annual Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. in the Regional Outpatient Center.

Sponsored by the Judy Bradshaw Children’s Foundation, more than 300 children who receive physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy are invited to this year’s celebration.

The event is open to the media.

Along with refreshments, face painting, games and pictures with Santa, each patient receives a gift specific to his or her need. Pediatric Rehabilitation staff shop weeks in advance to handpick a gift that will benefit each child.

This year’s event is particularly special because it recognizes Judy Bradshaw’s continual dedication to serve local children.

“It is heartwarming to see the smiles on the faces of these special children and their families as we spread Christmas cheer,” Rodak said. “This Christmas party is made possible each year by the love and generosity of the Judy Bradshaw Foundation.”

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:03 PM

Festival of Trees events raise thousands for Spartanburg Regional Hospice

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: November 12, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

A fashion show on November 7 and an auction gala on November 10 raised more than $40,000 for Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

Funds from the events are deposited into a Special Needs Hospice account. This money is used to give peace of mind, support and comfort to our hospice patients and their families through payment of medications, assistance with utility bills, purchase of nutritional supplements and groceries, providing linens and delivering warm meals at Easter and Thanksgiving holidays.

For more information about these events, please call the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation at 864-560-6727.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:03 PM

Organ donation program wins National Medal of Honor

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: November 4, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional has been awarded a National Medal of Honor for its organ donation program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commended the healthcare system’s efforts to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation. This was the second year in a row Spartanburg Regional has received the award.

Only 10 hospitals in South Carolina received the award. The 392 winning hospitals were honored for exemplary leadership and commitment to organ donors, donor families, and the nearly 98,000 patients on the National transplant waiting list.

Hospitals with eight or more potential organ donors during the 26-month award period ending in June 2007 were eligible for the Medals of Honor. All winning hospitals had to achieve and sustain a donation rate of 75 percent or more from among eligible donors for at least a year.

“Since Spartanburg Regional joined the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative in 2005, we have raised our organ donation rates from 10 percent to an award-winning 82 percent,” said Amy Hamrick, organ donation collaborative coordinator.

For more specific information on the Organ Donation Collaborative at Spartanburg Regional, call 864-641-9530.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:04 PM

Event to honor and inspire breast cancer survivors

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 22, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Gibbs Cancer Center will sponsor a group participation event at 6 p.m. on October 29 to empower local breast cancer survivors.

Hollie Walker, a breast cancer survivor and local horticulturalist, will lead “Never Have an Ordinary Day: 10 Ways to Bring More Joy into your Life” at the Gibbs Cancer Center.

“We hold so many events on prevention and screening, but we also want to do something special for breast cancer survivors,” said Gibbs Cancer Center Community and Support Program Coordinator Jackie Cleary.

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer survivors make up the largest percentage of cancer survivors in the United States at 22 percent. Any breast cancer survivor can sign up for this event by visiting spartanburgregional.com and clicking on “Events.”

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:06 PM

Spartanburg Regional publishes Community Benefit numbers

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 22, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

For a copy of statewide report, Healthy Hospitals / Healthy Lives: SCHA 2007 Hospital Community Benefits Report, visit www.scha.org.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:06 PM

Ambulatory Surgery Center of Spartanburg receives accreditation

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 22, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:07 PM

Spartanburg Regional hosts events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

For the month of October, Gibbs Cancer Center at Spartanburg Regional will hold events to raise awareness of the importance early detection and treatment of breast cancer in all women.

More than 1.6 million breast cancer survivors are alive in America today.

The events that have been planned for October give hope and the essential education to all women who may face this disease in the future, said Lisa Leary, breast health specialist and breast health program coordinator. “It is important for women to know about their risk of developing breast cancer,” Leary said.

The Village of Pelham will host “Girls Night Out” 6 – 9 p.m. Oct. 9. This night will be filled with education, food, friends, and shopping.

“Breast Cancer: Understanding Your Risk” will be held Oct. 15 in the Gibbs Cancer Center Auditorium at 6 p.m. Dinner and education material are included while Dr. Steven Corso, a medical oncologist, speaks on what women should know about their personal risk of breast cancer.

Hollie Walker, a breast cancer survivor, will speak on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Gibbs Cancer Center Auditorium. This event, “Never Have an Ordinary Day,” will empower survivors to bring joy to their lives. Dinner is included.

There has been a decrease in breast cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. It is believed that early detection through screening and increased education, the rates have declined. Getting tested regularly is the best way for women to lower their risk.

“Knowing what signs and symptoms to look for, where to go for help and what assistance is available to get help increases the chances of an abnormality to be found early, while it is still curable,” Leary said.

There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, but leading a healthy lifestyle will reduce the risk women are facing, breast health experts say.

Registration is required for each of the events, although each event is free. Please call 560-7999 or visit spartanburgregional.com and click on Events to register.

Service of Remembrance to comfort grieving families

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: October 8, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional Hospice will sponsor a Service of Remembrance at 3 p.m. on October 21 at the Cleveland Park Event Center.

“The service brings to reality that while our loved ones are not physically present, they live in us forever through our memory,” said Skip Snyder, Spartanburg Regional Hospice chaplain.

The service is primarily for families of Spartanburg Regional Hospice patients who have died during the last year. The ceremony centers on the gift of memory and encouraging families to remember their loved ones who have died. Each attendee should bring a framed photo of their loved one. During the service, the family will present the photo during a time of reflection. Music, readings and a candle-lighting ceremony will all be part of the service. The service is important not only for remembering, but also for allowing family members to interact with the staff that took care of their loved one through Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:08 PM

King, Dowell and Compton appointed to Spartanburg Regional Board of Trustees

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Three community leaders have been appointed to serve on Spartanburg Regional’s Board of Trustees.

Spencer King, a local attorney; Dr. Marsha Dowell, dean of the Mary Black School of Nursing at the University of South Carolina Upstate; and Ken Compton, Chief Executive Officer of Advance America, were recently named by Spartanburg County Council to serve four-year terms on the board.

Current board members Susan Dent and Dr. Bill James will resume their posts, as well.

The hospital system will benefit from the keen insight of King, Dr. Dowell and Compton, said Ingo Angermeier, president and CEO of Spartanburg Regional.

“Spencer, Dr. Dowell and Ken represent a winning mixture of business expertise, clinical prowess and, above all, proven leadership that will benefit each and every patient served at Spartanburg Regional,” Angermeier said. “With the added guidance from these well-respected individuals, the board is poised to continue the great work undertaken by those who have selflessly given valued service and counsel to this organization.”

Because Spartanburg Regional is the only healthcare facility in South Carolina to be recognized by the American Nurses Association as a Magnet ® hospital, Dr. Dowell looks forward to reaching new standards in nursing care. Only the top 3 percent of the nation’s hospitals can claim Magnet status.

“As a board member for the only Magnet hospital in South Carolina, it will be one of my critical responsibilities to monitor the maintenance of the excellent care currently delivered as well as to work to continually enhance that quality of care,” Dr. Dowell said. “As a board member, I will continually strive to support an environment of professional governance that results in credible evaluations of all areas of hospital care.”

King, former city attorney for the City of Spartanburg, also serves as president of the Spartanburg County Bar.

“I am honored to serve on a Board that is committed to deliver excellent medical care to Spartanburg and the Upstate,” King said.

Compton said he is interested in helping the organization sustain its steady growth as a healthcare leader.

”I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors at Spartanburg Regional,” Compton said. “Spartanburg Regional is an incredible asset to our community. I look forward to working with the Board to guarantee continued growth and ensure quality care is provided to our patients.”

King, Dr. Dowell and Compton succeed Ronnie Allison, Dr. Audrey Grant and Randy Foster.

“We are thankful for the service of Ronnie, Dr. Grant and Randy; their unyielding commitment to championing quality health care on behalf of this hospital system — and this community — has enriched this institution and its people,” Angermeier said. “Their dedication, guidance and vision have played an important role in the successful launching of a number of important strategic initiatives.”

The reappointment of Dent and Dr. James allows both to continue the quality work each has conducted for quality improvements in the hospital setting, Angermeier said.

“Susan and Dr. James are valuable assets to the board,” Angermeier said. “We are thankful for their continued dedication to Spartanburg Regional.”

Spartanburg Regional is one of South Carolina's largest community-based healthcare providers. Offering the latest in cancer, heart, women’s and orthopedic care, Spartanburg Regional is also home to South Carolina's first accredited stroke and chest pain centers, in addition to the Village at Pelham in Greer. Spartanburg Regional has been named a "Top 100" hospital for computer technology and has received awards for patient satisfaction and nursing care. In 2005, Gibbs Cancer Center became one of only six cancer centers on the globe to form an alliance with the world-famous M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Hangar B Ball raises $70,000 for heart services

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

The 2007 year’s Hangar B Ball raised approximately $70,000 to benefit heart services including the CHF program.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization and emergency room visits. However, through Spartanburg Regional’s CHF program, experts at the Regional Heart Center have helped hundreds of patients manage this chronic illness.

Many sponsors, volunteers, guests and performers helped make this event a success. The 2007 Heart Division of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation and the Hangar B Ball Planning Committee gave many hours of time to bring it together.

Hangar B 2007 Planning Committee
Janis Turrentine, Chairman
Gwin Allen
Marie Brax
Stewart Burgess
Kitta Cates
Jeff Cook
Kimberly Fly
Catherine Gramling
Donna Ivey
Brenda James
Kaye McIntyre
Scott Montgomery
David Rodak, M.D.
Sue Rothemich
Phil Stott

Lear Sponsor
Cardiology Consultants, P.A.

King Air Sponsors
Arthur State Bank
BB&T
Biotronik
Carolina Medical Affiliates and Spartanburg Cardiology
Gramling Brothers Contracting, Inc.
Holcombe Bomar Gunn & Bradford, P.A.
RIGGS
St. Jude Medical
The Robins & Morton Group

Twin Engine Sponsors
Budweiser of Spartanburg, Inc.
Charter Media
Ford & Harrison Law Firm, L.L.P.
Southern Mulch
The Arkwright Foundation
Victoria S. Kilcawley, FNPBC, LLC

Single Engine Sponsors
Contec, Inc.
Fairway Outdoor Advertising
McMillan Smith & Partners Architects, P.L.L.C.
Medtronic, Inc.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P.
Novartis
The Palmetto Bank

Contributing Sponsors
Beacon Drive-In
Blue Ridge Security System
Event Rentals
Macemore Environmental
PDS Heart
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company
Southeastern Paper Group
Southeastern Printing
Spartanburg Regional Emergency Physicians
TPM
The Davis Company
WSPA TV
Waste Management

Special Thanks
Bull Hawgs BBQ, Ribault St. Eatery and Catering Co., Spartanburg Little Theater, and Susan Floyd

National Cancer Institute taps local physician for quality-of-life study

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: September 17, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Dr. James D. Bearden, III, has been elected to the National Cancer Institute’s Symptom Management and Health-related Quality-of-Life committee.

Bearden, medical director of Gibbs Cancer Center, is one of only two physicians in the country to be selected for the committee. The committee will find ways to manage cancer-related symptoms through new studies and existing clinical trials.

Officials are hopeful the committee will create a renewed focus among community oncologists, thus leading to more stringent quality of life improvements for cancer patients.

The committee is helping a larger national problem, Bearden said.

“Spartanburg Regional will have the ability to enhance the quality of life to those in need, while managing symptoms that directly affect the community and its residents,” Bearden said. “As a result of this seat at the table, our community will have better access to new studies.”

This opportunity allows Gibbs and Spartanburg Regional to represent the National Cancer Institute on both a local and national level, said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional.

“Through Dr. Bearden’s life-long commitment to stellar cancer care, he has developed a great awareness of how the disease affects the patient’s personal life, as well as their health,” Angermeier said. “This keen understanding will greatly benefit those in our community and beyond who do not want to sacrifice quality of life during their cancer treatment.”

In 1983, the NCI named Spartanburg Regional as one of 51 sites for its Community Clinical Oncology Program. Since its inception, the Upstate Carolina CCOP is one of only a handful that has been continually funded by the NCI.

Gibbs Cancer Center is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility. It is one of only six facilities in the world to form an alliance with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:09 PM

Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health construction begins

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Construction of the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health began in earnest on
Thursday.

A host of local dignitaries and Spartanburg Regional officials were on hand for the facility’s official groundbreaking.

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2008, the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health will be a state-of-the-art imaging center consolidating digital mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast MRI and bone densitometry into one easily accessible outpatient location.

The facility is being named in honor of Drs. James D. Bearden III and Julian C. Josey Jr., local physicians specializing in cancer care.

“Drs. Jay Bearden and Julian Josey long ago realized the importance of teamwork,” said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional. “By fusing the elements of varied approaches to cancer treatment, be they radiation or medical oncology, they created a new way of communicating with a disease they are continually learning to combat. After years of gestation, the dream inspired by that relationship will today finally be unearthed.”

The goal of the breast health center will be to provide a seamless multidisciplinary experience allowing women to receive all breast health services in a single location with significantly reduced wait times between services.

“A completely digital atmosphere, with everything from digital mammography and breast MRI to the ability to perform minimally invasive biopsies, ensures patients have access to the very latest technology,” said Dr. Larry Warren, radiologist. “Because all this equipment will be available in the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health, it will be convenient for patients, too.”

According to the Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2005 – 2006 report published by the American Cancer Society, breast cancer accounts for nearly one in three cancers diagnosed in women, making it the most common form of cancer among women with the exception of cancers of the skin. From 1998 – 2002, 95 percent of new cases of breast cancer occurred in women ages 40 and over. This dramatic growth in the number of women illustrated in the service area population and the data presented in the American Cancer Society report support the need for the proposed consolidation of comprehensive breast health services.

The center is being funded with the help of a $2.5 million gift from Billy and Lindsay Webster of Spartanburg. Lindsay Webster, a breast cancer survivor, shared the vision of Bearden and Josey to construct a breast center that would be accessible, convenient and serve to calm women’s anxiety during a stressful time in their lives.

“I have been overwhelmed by the community’s response to the news of this center,” Lindsay Webster said. “In a year’s time, women will have access to latest technology in a warm, caring environment. The speed with which this project has progressed is a powerful indicator of the urgent need for the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health.”

The center’s namesakes, Drs. Bearden and Josey, credit the vision and initiative of Spartanburg Regional benefactors, as well as the community itself, with the ability to provide these services in an efficient, yet comforting way.

“Our commitment is to deliver patient-centered care in multiple dimensions, with a shared emphasis on physical, spiritual and emotional well-being, allows each woman to actively participate in her decision-making by offering the best in breast health services,” Dr. Bearden said. “We couldn’t do that without the support of so many giving people.”

“This center is not about names, it’s about vision,” Dr. Josey said. “The breast center represents the legacy of a community with people who have opened their hearts to offer our patients the very best. When it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of this all-too-common disease, we can credit the vision of a community that put the good of their fellow man above anything else.”

Gibbs Cancer Center is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility. It is one of only six facilities in the nation to form an affiliation with M.D. Anderson Physicians Network in Houston.

Volunteer opportunities available at Regional Hospice

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Volunteer opportunities are available in patient care and non-patient care at Regional Hospice.

Direct care opportunities are available in Spartanburg, Union, Greenville and Cherokee counties. Regional Hospice Home has opportunities available for volunteers to work directly with patients and also opportunities for greeters, office support and events.

Mandatory training sessions are as follows:

September 4 – September 27 (Direct Care Training)
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration deadline is August 10

October 10 (Non-direct Care Training)
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Registration deadline is September 28

Please contact Sheila Chapman at 560-5636 or schapman@srhs.com for an information packet or to register. All classes are held at the Regional Hospice Home located at 686 Jeff Davis Drive in Spartanburg.

Spartanburg Regional named to '100 Most Wired list'

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Healthcare system wins award for fifth consecutive year

CHICAGO — Spartanburg Regional is one the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals, according to the results of the 2007 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released today in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine which has named the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems since 1999.

“Spartanburg Regional has consistently demonstrated its ability to use technology for a better, safer and more efficient patient experience,” said Ray Shingler, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, at Spartanburg Regional. “For more than five years, we have made the 100 Most Wired list. In that period of time, Spartanburg Regional has not only become a national leader in the best use of technology for our patients’ care and safety, but also in sharing that information with other hospitals. This sharing helps other hospitals achieve the same success that Spartanburg Regional has enjoyed.”

Spartanburg Regional has won the award five consecutive times.

The nation’s 100 Most Wired hospitals show better outcomes in four key areas: mortality rates, patient safety measures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), core measures from Hospital Compare and average length of stay. Based on analysis of the ninth annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study results, hospitals are embracing technology as a key tool for health care quality improvements.

“Many hospitals have made strong commitments to using information technology to improve the quality of care,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). “They are combining technology with clinical knowledge and creativity with a focus on improving outcomes, and making care safer and more streamlined for both patients and clinicians.”

Hospitals investing in quality are also investing in IT. “The Most Wired hospitals are focused on quality,” says Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospital & Health Networks. The analysis does not establish a direct causal relationship between technology and outcomes, however, health care organizations are looking to measure trends documenting better outcomes.

"The continued adoption of technology for clinical systems in health care is driving rapid change and great outcomes,” said Lewis Redd, managing partner, Accenture Health & Life Sciences North American Provider Practice and one of the 2007 Survey sponsors. “The leaders in the field are already showing us how technology can help connect hospitals with their patients and enhance clinical outcomes. This survey is a call to action.”

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

Ingo Angermeier, Spartanburg Regional President and CEO, said the hospital’s appearance on the Most Wired list demonstrates its commitment to equip employees with the latest tools needed to enhance patient care.

“In health care, an understanding of the latest technology is just as important as its implementation,” Angermeier said. “With this philosophy, Spartanburg Regional has learned to harness the power of industry advances and put technology to work for the hospital employee and, ultimately, the patient.”

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2007 survey in cooperation with Accenture, McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

About the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, conducts the voluntary Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study annually and names the 100 Most Wired. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

McKesson Corporation is the world’s largest healthcare services, technology and automation company.

CHIME was formed with the dual objective of serving the professional development needs of healthcare chief information officers and advocating the more effective use of information management within health care.

About Spartanburg Regional

Spartanburg Regional is one of South Carolina’s largest community-based healthcare providers. Offering the latest in cancer, heart, women’s and orthopedic care, Spartanburg Regional has received numerous awards for patient satisfaction and nursing care. For its understanding of leading healthcare technology, the U.S. Department of Defense selected Spartanburg Regional as the test bed for the “Hospital of the Future” program. Gibbs Cancer Center is one of only seven cancer centers on the globe to form an alliance with the world-famous M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. More information can be found at www.spartanburgregional.com.

'Topping Out' ceremony scheduled for Village Hospital

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: July 26, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

GREER — Village Hospital is one step closer to completion.

Officials from Village at Pelham, Spartanburg Regional and the Greer community will be on hand Friday to participate in the “Topping Out” ceremony for the 48-bed flagship facility at the Village at Pelham.

The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Friday at the Village at Pelham, near the construction site of the hospital itself. The “Topping Out” ceremony is one of the construction industry’s oldest traditions. The practice of placing a tree onto a completed structure signifies life and growth of the building and those within its walls, according to legend. In modern times, the final steel beam that is placed on the structure during the construction phase is painted white and signed by individuals close to the project.

Spartanburg Regional and Village at Pelham employees, as well as members of the Greer community, have been given an opportunity to sign the beam. It will be hoisted into place during Friday’s ceremony.

Village Hospital is scheduled to be complete in October 2008.

What: Village Hospital “Topping Out” ceremony
When: Friday, July 27, 2007 at 11 a.m.
Where: Village at Pelham
Medical Office Building
2755 South Highway 14, Greer

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:14 PM

UnitedHealthcare and Spartanburg Regional reach new agreement

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: July 23, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

UnitedHealthcare announced a new agreement with Spartanburg Regional Medical Center that provides UnitedHealthcare commercial health-plan members with access to the medical center’s inpatient and outpatient services.

UnitedHealthcare also reached agreements with the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Spartanburg and the Surgery Center at Pelham.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement that will provide UnitedHealthcare members with access to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center’s outstanding services,” said Austin Pittman, president and CEO of UnitedHealthcare of the Carolinas. “Our coming together demonstrates UnitedHealthcare’s and Spartanburg Regional Medical Centers’ commitment to ensuring that South Carolinians have access to local affordable, quality health care.”

UnitedHealthcare serves approximately 167,000 South Carolinians through a health care network of more than 5,470 physicians and 68 hospitals, including those affiliated with Spartanburg Regional.

“This new arrangement will help us to better serve the community and our patients who are UnitedHealthcare members,” said Sara Beth Hammond, Spartanburg Regional’s vice president of managed care.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:15 PM

Dr. Bill James appointed to Spartanburg Regional Board of Directors

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Long-time area physician, Bill James, has been appointed to serve on Spartanburg Regional’s Board of Directors.

For 27 years, Dr. James, a Wofford graduate, has practiced obstetrics and gynecology at Woman’s Clinic in Spartanburg.

James’ commitment to the delivery of quality health care in his home community speaks for itself, Spartanburg Regional President Ingo Angermeier said.

“Dr. James’ service to this healthcare system speaks for itself,” said Angermeier. “His prominence as a trusted and valued leader in this community will allow us to continue in our quest for unsurpassed quality. Dr. James’ vast experience and well-documented support of Spartanburg Regional demonstrates the value he will add to this board.”

James, a former chief of the medical staff at Spartanburg Regional, said his energies as a board member will focus on patient care.

“My father, Frank, was a dedicated public servant who carefully taught me the priorities involved in volunteering,” James said. “My interests and efforts will focus on the needs of the patients of the upstate. Patients want knowledgeable but kind and nurturing care at all levels, especially the bedside level. I will offer my bread-and-butter work experience as a resource to fellow board members — a resource to assist them in gauging how well our hospital executes its mission and vision in the real time of the day-to-day lives of its patients.”

James succeeds Dr. Bert Knight.

“Although his tenure on the board was brief, Dr. Knight’s guidance allowed this board to make informed decisions that will benefit the institution for years to come,” Angermeier said. “We thank him for his service.”

Spartanburg Regional is one of South Carolina’s largest community-based healthcare providers. Offering the latest in cancer, heart, women’s and orthopedic care, Spartanburg Regional has been named a “Top 100” hospital for computer technology and has received awards for patient satisfaction and nursing care. Gibbs Cancer Center is one of only seven cancer centers on the globe to form an alliance with the world-famous M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. More information can be found at www.spartanburgregional.com.

Gibbs Cancer Center selected by National Cancer Institute as pilot of its Community Cancer Centers Program

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG — Gibbs Cancer Center has been selected by The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as a launch site for the three-year pilot phase of its Community Cancer Centers program.

The program will help bring state-of-the-art cancer care to patients in community hospitals across the United States.

The National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) is designed to encourage the collaboration of private-practice medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists — with close links to NCI research and to the network of 63 NCI-designated Cancer Centers principally based at large research universities. Evidence from a wide range of studies suggests that cancer patients diagnosed and treated in a setting of multi-specialty care and clinical research may live longer and have a better quality of life.

“Our participation in this program will give Gibbs Cancer Center access to the latest technology and National Cancer Institute-based research,” said Dr. James Bearden III, Medical Director of Gibbs. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to make great strides in research that will have implications for our patients, as well as those in other parts of the country.”

The pilot program will research new and enhanced ways to assist, educate, and better treat the needs of underserved populations — including elderly, rural, inner-city, and low-income patients — as well as racial and ethnic groups with unusually high cancer rates.

The three year pilot will begin at eight free-standing community hospitals and six additional hospitals operated by health care systems. The sites will be funded for a collective total of $5 million per year. An NCI panel of experts and an independent group of outside experts will set milestones, monitor progress, and evaluate success of the three year pilot and then issue recommendations for a full-fledged program.

“Our affiliation with such an impressive grouping of cancer programs is great evidence of Gibbs’ prominence in the world of cutting-edge research and cancer treatment,” said President/CEO Ingo Angermeier. “This is win for our patients and our local community, as well as for the entire state.”

The hospitals, their locations, and their cancer centers are:
• Billings Clinic, Billings, Mont. (Billings Clinic Cancer Center)
• Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Conn. (Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center)
• St. Joseph’s / Candler, Savannah, Ga. (Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion)
• Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, La. (Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center)
• Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sanford Cancer Center)
• Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartanburg, S.C., (Gibbs Cancer Center)
• St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, Calif. (St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Center)
• Christiana Hospital, Newark, Del. (Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care)
• Ascension Health of St. Louis, Mo.
– St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind. (St. Vincent Oncology Center)
– Columbia St. Mary’s, Milwaukee, Wis. (Columbia St. Mary’s Cancer Center)
– Brackenridge Hospital, Austin, Texas (Shivers Center)
• Catholic Health Initiatives of Denver, Colo., will operate sites at:
– Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Penrose Cancer Center)
– St. Joseph Medical Center, Towson , Md. (St. Joseph Cancer Institute)
– A coordinated regional program in Nebraska sponsored by Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney (Good Samaritan Cancer Center); St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln (St. Elizabeth Cancer Center); and St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island (St. Francis Cancer Treatment Center).

NCCCP pilot sites will study how community hospitals nationwide could most effectively develop and implement a national database of voluntarily-provided electronic medical records accessible to cancer researchers. The sites will also study methods of expanding and standardizing the collection of blood and tissue specimens voluntarily obtained from patients for cancer research.

“The comprehensive management of easily transferable medical information and its secure exchange between health care consumers and providers is a key issue,” said Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. “The NCCCP pilot program holds great potential to inform us on the best ways to further the important adoption of electronic medical records at the community level.”

“A key component of the NCI Community Cancer Centers program will be education,” said NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. “Studying new ways to help patients and members of the community better understand the lifestyle issues that affect cancer risk could pay dividends for many diseases.”

“It is becoming clear that one of the greatest determinants of cancer mortality in the years ahead will be access to care,” said NCI Director John E. Niederhuber, M.D. “This program will succeed if it can bring the benefits of our latest science to people in the communities where they live.”

The Marsha and Jimmy Gibbs Cancer Center is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility associated with the National Cancer Institute (one of the original 50 sites for a Community Clinical Oncology Program-CCOP).

GRCC is a proven leader in providing effective cancer treatment through advanced technology, professional expertise and an exceptional level of personalized care. Our oncology program has also been recognized by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as offering high quality cancer care. Please visit www.gibbscancercenter.com to find out more about Spartanburg Regional’s commitment to treating cancer.

For a Q&A on the NCCCP, please go to:
www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/NCCCPQandA.

For more information on Gibbs, please go to:
www.gibbscancercenter.com

For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov, or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Spartanburg Regional celebrates re-accreditation of Primary Stroke Center

Tue, 29 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional’s Primary Stroke Center has been re-accredited by the Joint Commission.

The institution was the first healthcare provider in South Carolina to be named a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission in March of 2005, and is one of only three providers in the state to be certified.

Re-accredidation lasts for two years.

“Re-accredidation showcases our continued efforts to serve as the benchmark for stroke care in South Carolina, and beyond,” said Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional. “With a stroke, time is a critical factor. Our staff’s efficient and dedicated approach to stroke treatment is what’s made Spartanburg Regional a leader in this area.”

According to recent figures, South Carolina averages 64.8 stroke-related deaths out of 100,000 total deaths. That’s the nation’s second highest death rate from stroke.

But Spartanburg County has an even higher average than South Carolina, with strokes responsible for the deaths of 75 people out of 100,000 total deaths. That’s why many refer to this area as the “buckle” of the “stroke belt”— a geographic area encompassing the Carolinas and Georgia where there is a higher incidence of strokes.

“Spartanburg experiences a high mortality rate when compared to other Upstate counties,” said Debby Bridgeman, Stroke Clinical Case Manager at Spartanburg Regional. “Realizing this, Spartanburg Regional has taken a stance to provide the best quality of care for the community that we serve. We have a process in place to quickly evaluate and treat those who experience a stroke and provide avenues to educate and screen high-risk populations to prevent stroke from occurring.”

JCAHO’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Achievement of certification and re-accreditation signifies that the healthcare provider’s services have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes.

The commission’s certification program is based on the Recommendations for Primary Stroke Centers as published by the Brain Attack Coalition and American Stroke Association statements for stroke to evaluate hospitals functioning as primary stroke centers.

“It means to me that my patients will receive excellent care and that the hospital is committed to treating stroke patients with clot-busting treatments and they are committed to preventing more strokes,” said Dr. Carol Kooistra, Medical Director. “Another thing re-accreditation means is that the programs set-up are recognized as top-level in the nation and, since we are the only hospital having undergone re-accreditation in the state of South Carolina, Spartanburg Regional is setting the example for other hospitals to follow for stroke care within the state and region.”

The warning signs of a stroke include sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body, sudden and severe headaches, loss of speech or trouble communicating, and blurred vision.

Spartanburg Regional recognized for employee safety record by Palmetto Health Trust Services

Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: May 16, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System was honored with the 2006 Excellence Award by Palmetto Health Trust (PHT) Services, a state-wide agency that works with healthcare organizations to improve safety for employees and patients.

The award recognized Spartanburg Regional’s comprehensive approach to safety. Specifically mentioned were the Safety First program for employees, scratch-off card incentive program, and minimal lift protocols. Thanks to these initiatives, Spartanburg Regional reported fewer accidents and days away from work than the industry average.

In addition, both SRMC and Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care were recognized for reporting all claims within three days for 2005. And, SRHS held the lowest loss ratio among hospitals with more than 600 beds.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:17 PM

Commission on Cancer chooses Gibbs for exclusive award

Tue, 15 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

The Commission on Cancer has recognized Gibbs Cancer Center with the
Outstanding Achievement Award. Gibbs is the only center in South Carolina to be given this honor.

The Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.

A facility receives the OAA following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with seven standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement). In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for the remaining 29 standards. Thirty-one programs received the OAA as a result of surveys performed in 2006.

This number represents approximately 6 percent of programs surveyed during this period. A majority of recipients are community-based facilities; teaching hospitals, NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and Network Cancer Programs also received the award.

“The local community already knows about the great combination of compassion and clinical excellence that Gibbs Cancer Center provides,” said Ingo Angermeier, President/CEO of Spartanburg Regional. “But to be recognized by the national authority on cancer care illuminates us as an example for the rest of the country to study and follow. That should give the community added confidence in our ability to treat cancer aggressively and successfully.”

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 40 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

“This great honor serves as a validation of the hard work that has made Gibbs Cancer Center an authority on the treatment of cancer,” said Dr. James Bearden III, Medical Director of Gibbs. “It should come as no surprise that Gibbs is being recognized as a leader in its field.”

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 1.3 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2006. There are currently more than 1,400 CoC-approved cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. This 25 percent of hospitals diagnose and/or treat 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

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 onsite 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,
• Quality care close to home.

The Marsha and Jimmy Gibbs Regional Cancer Center (GRCC) is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility associated with the National Cancer Institute (one of the original 50 sites for a Community Clinical Oncology Program-CCOP).

GRCC is a proven leader in providing effective cancer treatment through advanced technology, professional expertise and an exceptional level of personalized care. Our oncology program has also been recognized by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as offering high quality cancer care. Please visit www.gibbscancercenter.com to find out more about Spartanburg Regional’s commitment to treating cancer. Visit www.gibbscancercenter.com for more information.

For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit www.facs.org/cancer/index.htm.

Gibbs Cancer Center awarded Community Investment Grants from American Cancer Society

Thu, 03 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg - The South Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society recently awarded Targeted Community Investment Grants to Gibbs Cancer Center. The Targeted Community Investment Grant Program financially supports state, regional and local projects consistent with the Society’s fight against cancer. More than $300,000 was presented to partners of the Society this year.

With the aid of a $4,000 grant from the Society, Gibbs, in partnership with various other community agencies, will implement two new programs to Spartanburg County to address the health disparities among African-Americans in its community regarding breast and prostate cancer.

These programs, entitled “Tell a Friend” and “Let’s Talk About It,” will be used to reach African-American men and women in an effort to educate them about breast and prostate cancers.

Officials at Gibbs warn that efforts are needed in this county to address the overwhelming breast cancer health disparities among African American women. Data from the Gibbs Regional Cancer Center Cancer Data Management department for 2000-2005 breast cancer stage at diagnosis revealed that African American women were diagnosed in the late stages more often that Caucasian women.

Breast cancer ranks number one in the top five for cancer incidence and cancer mortality among African American women in Spartanburg County.

With a special awareness program, “Tell a Friend,” trained facilitators, through collaboration with African-American churches and beauty salons, will disseminate information to targeted women within their congregation, customers, and their community. This would include African-American women of mammogram age that do not currently receive their screening mammogram.

While African-American women are faced with a higher incidence of breast cancer, strategies are being implemented to increase awareness about African-American men and prostate cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. African-American men are at an increased risk for the disease with an incidence rate 60 percent higher than in white males and double the mortality rate. The DHEC Office of Minority Health reports that African-American men are three times more likely to die of prostate cancer than white men in South Carolina.

The “Let’s Talk About It” Prostate Education Program will increases awareness and importance of prostate cancer screenings to African-American men. Implementation of this program in partnership with African-American churches and the Us TOO Prostate Cancer Support Group would include training facilitators in the LTAI program. They will then provide educational sessions to other African-American men in their church and community. The educational sessions will follow the LTAI program manual and include speaker presentations by local urologists.

“The Targeted Community Investment Grants financially support local projects consistent with the Society’s priorities for health disparities in individual communities,” said Patricia P. Hoge, RN, Ph.D., Chief Mission Officer for the American Cancer Society. “Local organizations know the situations in their communities and often recognize the best way to address the issue, and the Society is here to help complement that work.”

Nationwide, more than 1,444,920 new cancer incidents are expected, with a mortality rate of 559,650 in 2007.

“At Gibbs, our ultimate goal is cancer prevention,” said David Church, Spartanburg Regional Vice President of Clinical Services. “These funds will help valuable community programs like ‘Tell a Friend’ and ‘Let’s Talk About It’ reach at-risk populations with a positive message: Early detection is the key to beating cancer.”

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For information about cancer, call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1 (800) ACS-2345 or log onto www.cancer.org.

Gibbs Cancer Center is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility associated with the National Cancer Institute, the Medical University of South Carolina and the M. D. Anderson Physicians Network®. A proven leader in providing effective cancer treatment through advanced technology, professional expertise and an exceptional level of personalized care, the oncology program has been recognized by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as offering high quality cancer care. For more information, visit www.gibbscancercenter.com.

Spartanburg Regional offers new, minimally invasive treatment for sinusitis

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 24, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional now offers Balloon Sinuplasty for patients with sinusitis. A thin catheter is inserted through the nostril into the affected sinus passageway. Next, a balloon is gently inflated, opening the passageway and restoring normal drainage and function. The procedure is minimally invasive and has few side effects. Most patients can resume normal activities within 24 hours.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:22 PM

Gibbs Cancer Center to celebrate Cancer Survivors Day

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 19, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Gibbs Cancer Center will present Cancer Survivors Day 2 - 5 p.m. Sunday, June 3 at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. This is Spartanburg’s tenth year to celebrate the lives of all people, especially those affected by cancer.

This year’s local event theme is “We Are Strong for Lights, Camera, Action”. Attendees will enjoy movie- and theater-related music from local talent. Cancer Survivors Day is a free event open to cancer survivors and their caregivers. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided at no charge.

On National Cancer Survivors Day, our nation honors survivors, anyone living with a history of cancer, and recognizes those professionals who are helping to fight the battle against cancer. Gibbs Cancer Center joins thousands of people in hundreds of communities who will be celebrating Cancer Survivors Day. Survivors will share smiles, laughter, tears, and hugs as they celebrate this milestone. This symbolic event shows the world that there is life after cancer. For additional information about this year’s event, please call 864-560-6747.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:22 PM

New computer software aids treatment of critically ill patients

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 12, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional is one of the first in the area to use Cerner APACHE III computer software to provide better care for critically ill patients.

The system allows healthcare workers to access and add to a national database of more than 1 million critical care patients. Using this information as a benchmark, the APACHE system helps predict a patient’s prognosis. By comparing each patient with others across the country who face similar illnesses, the system alerts healthcare workers to any particular risks to the patient and predicts factors such as length of stay and severity of illness. The system also helps pinpoint opportunities for improvement in care and assists in tracking existing improvement efforts.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:23 PM

Matalin and Carville speak at Society of 1921 Gala

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: April 2, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

James Carville and Mary Matalin entertained the crowd with their polar opposite political leanings at the Society of 1921 Gala on March 31.

Carville and Matalin also toured Gibbs Cancer Center.

The donor appreciation event honored those who contributed to the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation in 2005 and 2006.

Past speakers at the Society of 1921 Gala include New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, figure skater Scott Hamilton, President and Mrs. George Bush, and Tom Brokaw, among others.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:23 PM

Softer mammograms now available at Spartanburg Regional

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: March 12, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

It’s no secret that mammograms can save lives. But do they have to be so uncomfortable? Not anymore!

Spartanburg Regional is a certified Softer Mammogram Provider®. This means a soft foam cushion, called a MammoPad® is used for every woman’s personal mammogram. After the mammogram is complete, the pad is discarded and a new pad is used for the next patient. The MammoPad breast cushion was designed by a female breast surgeon and is FDA approved, so they do not interfere with the image quality of your mammogram. They simply provide a warmer, more comfortable experience. In fact, 70 percent of women reported that it decreased their discomfort by half.

To schedule your mammogram at Spartanburg Regional, The Woman’s Clinic or the Village at Pelham, please call 560-7777.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:25 PM

Spartanburg Regional cancer program approved by Commission on Cancer

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Spartanburg Regional cancer program approved by Commission on Cancer

SPARTANBURG—The Commission of Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Approval with Commendation to the cancer program at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. A facility receives a Three-Year Approval with Commendation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement). In addition a facility receives a compliance rating for all other standards.

“It’s an incredible honor to receive this stamp of approval,” said James D. Bearden, III, Medical Director of Gibbs Regional Cancer Center. “It’s just another sign of the high-quality cancer care we offer here in Spartanburg.”

The core functions of the CoC include setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 CoC standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state, and local level. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 1.3 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2006. There are currently more than 1,400 CoC-approved cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. This 25 percent of hospitals diagnose and/or treat 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

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,
· Quality care close to home.

The Marsha and Jimmy Gibbs Regional Cancer Center (GRCC) is a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research facility associated with the National Cancer Institute (one of the original 50 sites for a Community Clinical Oncology Program-CCOP).

GRCC is a proven leader in providing effective cancer treatment through advanced technology, professional expertise and an exceptional level of personalized care. Our oncology program has also been recognized by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as offering high quality cancer care. Please visit www.gibbscancercenter.com to find out more about Spartanburg Regional’s commitment to treating cancer.

For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit www.facs.org/cancer/index.html.

Robotic surgery performed at Spartanburg Regional

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: February 14, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Spartanburg Regional now offers a new, minimally invasive treatment for patients with prostate cancer called the da Vinci Prostatectomy. This procedure is performed using the da Vinci® Surgical System, a stateof-the-art robotic surgical platform designed to enable complex, minimally invasive surgery.

Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in U.S. males and the sixth leading cause of death in U.S. men overall. Approximately 17 percent of U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer sometime in their lives. The American Cancer Society estimates there are approximately 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the United States annually.

The da Vinci Prostatectomy is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a state-of-the-art surgical system to help surgeons see vital anatomical structures more clearly and perform procedures more precisely.

“Spartanburg Regional remains committed to proving the most current technology available to upstate patients,” President/CEO Ingo Angermeier said.

For most patients, da Vinci Prostatectomy offers substantially less pain and a much shorter recovery than traditional prostate surgery. Other advantages may include reduced need for blood transfusions; less scarring and less risk of infection.

Moreover, recent studies suggest that da Vinci Prostatectomy may offer improved cancer control and a lower incidence of impotence and urinary incontinence.

For the majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer, treatment ultimately results in positive outcomes. With greater awareness of the disease, early detection is on the rise and mortality rates are in decline. In addition, the latest advances in medical treatment such as robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery are enabling cancer patients to return more quickly to active and productive lives after treatment.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:26 PM

Spartanburg Regional celebrates 25 years of heart surgery

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Scheduled Date: February 12, 2007 12:00 AM
Description:

Kelley, Dorchak and Utley honored for service to program

SPARTANBURG--Spartanburg Regional celebrated the first 25 years of its heart surgery program by honoring three physicians instrumental in the development of the healthcare system’s nationally recognized cardiac services.

Dr. Henry Kelley, Dr. Joe Dorchak and the late Dr. Joe Utley were recognized this week by Spartanburg Regional officials for their dedication and service to the Regional Heart Center. Spartanburg Regional’s first open heart surgery was performed on March 16, 1981.

“Although many of the milestones in cardiology once seemed unreachable, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System has seen them through and made cardiovascular care in our community a top priority,” Randy Nyp, chief operating officer, said. “Thanks to the dedicated vision and leadership of Drs. Henry Kelley, Joe Dorchak and Joe Utley, the most cutting-edge treatments have been available right here at home. These doctors have allowed Spartanburg Regional to keep this community’s heart beating for 25 years.”

In celebration of all three physicians’ efforts to establish Spartanburg Regional’s cutting-edge heart program, each doctor had a clinical program or facility named in his honor. Those naming honors include the Joe R. Dorchak, M.D., Cardiac Catheterization Program, the Henry G. Kelley, M.D., Heart Center Auditorium and the Joe R. Utley, M.D., Cardiovascular Surgery Program.

Since 1981, more than 8,000 heart surgeries have been performed at Spartanburg Regional.

“The Regional Heart Center has long been recognized as a leader in cardiac care and for the past 25 years, we have been here when you have needed us the most,” said Susan Duggar, RN, chief nursing officer and interim executive director of the Regional Heart Center. “Today, 25 years after the first patients were treated in the Regional Heart Center, this center of excellence stands as a beacon of hope for those suffering from heart disease.”

The Regional Heart Center been named a Top 100 Hospital and, most recently, ranked number one in South Carolina for overall heart services and number one in both South Carolina and North Carolina for heart surgery by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company.

Item Last Modified On: December 11, 2008 2:26 PM

Homeland Security selects Spartanburg Regional for Medical Assistance Team

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Local EMS group among four South Carolina agencies on call for deployment during state emergencies

SPARTANBURG — Spartanburg Regional Emergency Medical Services has been selected by S.C. Homeland Security as one of four agencies in South Carolina to establish a Regional Medical Assistance Team.

The team is available for deployment in the Upstate as well as bordering North Carolina counties. S.C. Emergency Management can also send the team to other areas of the state.

A $325,000 grant was awarded by S.C. Homeland Security to establish and equip the team.

"We are currently working on the grant process and ordering the equipment needed to prepare us for disasters such as hurricanes," Jimmy Greene, the Director of EMS, Transportation, and Air Medical Services for Spartanburg Regional, said.

While the team will be based in Spartanburg, Greene said Spartanburg Regional EMS plans to gather members in other areas of the state as well. Greene is hoping for around 20 members in Spartanburg County that will extend to approximately 60 members in the Upstate area.

"Our team will be ready to respond within two hours and be deployed for up to two days in case of an emergency in our surrounding areas," Greene said.

The federal teams usually respond within 72 hours after which Spartanburg Regional EMS will turn a disaster site over to them. Over the next several months, Spartanburg Regional EMS will be meeting with different agencies in the Upstate to develop a plan in the event of a disaster or mass casualty event. The other teams are based in Horry, Beaufort, and Lexington counties.

Construction begins for Village Hospital in Greer

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT

Acute care facility expected to open in 2008

GREER — It’s official: Construction has begun on Village Hospital.

A host of community leaders were on hand today as the design for the 48-bed acute care hospital was unveiled at an official groundbreaking ceremony at the Village at Pelham.

Village Hospital, which is expected to cost approximately $51 million, will be

a fully operational acute-care hospital whose focus will be on medical and surgical patients, as well as those needing obstetrical and emergency care.

Spartanburg Regional President Ingo Angermeier said the hospital represents the healthcare system’s commitment to the Greer community.

“We certainly feel a responsibility to provide this area with the quality healthcare it deserves,” President Ingo Angermeier said. “That responsibility will continue to grow as the region grows. We stand ready to make Village Hospital and the Village at Pelham an integral part of Greer’s development and economic viability.”

The 119,500 square foot facility should open in October 2008, Administrator David Parks said.

“Village Hospital is being built in a rapidly growing area that needs easy access to acute care,” Parks said. “It will be part of the Village at Pelham, which will offer a full range of healthcare services and easy-access retail to meet the lifestyle requirements of a busy, exciting community.”

Village Hospital will also serve as the “incubator” for the U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored Hospital of the Future program.

Spartanburg Regional is the only North American healthcare system in the program, which was developed to improve technology infrastructure in the nation’s hospitals.

This means the construction of the Village Hospital will represent the very latest in healthcare technology, and will serve as a catalyst for the development of a more sophisticated healthcare technology infrastructure in this country and abroad.

“We are designing a new model for care using the best information available from published and practicing professionals,” Parks said. “The care delivery processes and building design will be innovative and maximize safety, comfort, efficiency and healing for our patients and their families, as well as our physicians and staff.”

Census trends indicate the Pelham area of Greer and western Spartanburg County could see population growth of nearly 10 percent between 2004 and 2009.

The first phase of the Village at Pelham was the development of a joint-ventured ambulatory surgery center with local surgeons and SRHS. A Medical Office Building, hosting a number of physician practices, opened in January 2006.

For more information, visit villageatpelham.com.