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High definition television is making its way from the living room to the hospital room. Now, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center is among the first hospitals on the Central Coast to introduce the technology as part of a new endoscope platform to help doctors diagnose diseases in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, including colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women combined in the U.S.

Compared to conventional systems, high-definition endoscopy, combined with Narrow Band Imaging™ (NBI), can provide doctors with sharper images and better contrast, which in turn may help them to better detect lesions during examinations when using the wide-angle colonscope. As a result, patients may receive more accurate diagnoses. The new system can also shorten procedure times for patients.

The HDTV signal from the endoscope platform’s video processor is designed to produce an impressive 1080 lines of resolution, more than twice the number of scan lines used by conventional systems, offering doctors breathtaking images of the colon with a high level of detail and color. NBI is a new image processing technique which takes advantage of the scattering and absorption properties of human tissue, thereby improving visual contrast on mucosal surfaces during endoscopic observation of the GI tract. The result is remarkably clear views of anatomical structures and fine capillary patterns of mucous membranes, which are normally difficult to distinguish.

The American Cancer Society projects that colon and rectal cancer will kill 55,170 Americans this year. The ACS also points out that the five year survival rate for people whose CRC is treated in an early stage, before it has spread, is greater than 90%. The ACS recommends that beginning at age 50, both men and women should be screened for colon and rectal cancer. People with CRC risk factors, such as a personal history of CRC or adenomatous polyps or a strong family history of CRC or polyps, should talk to their doctor about starting CRC screenings earlier.

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Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center volunteer Donnie Jensen was named “Outstanding Volunteer of the Year” and volunteer Amanda Johnson was honored as “Sweetheart Volunteer of the Year” at the hospital’s 38^th Annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon. The event recognized the hospital’s 114 volunteers, including 30 college students, for their years of dedicated service.

The Volunteer Auxiliary awarded two student scholarships at the luncheon. Meghan Dean, a biology major at Cal Poly, volunteers at Sierra Vista in the evenings and plans to apply to medical school this summer. Robyn Matteson volunteers her Saturdays at the hospital and has recently been accepted into the Cuesta College nursing program.   

The Volunteer of the Year is selected each year by a committee of the volunteers. The Sweetheart Volunteer of the Year is selected annually by the volunteer organization’s president and the student scholarship is chosen from a competitive pool of applicants.

Last year Sierra Vista volunteers contributed 23,450 hours to the hospital in a variety of services. In addition, they donated $23,050 to local scholarships and non-profit organizations.

Text Area 1: Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center announced today that Remonia Ashmore, director of nursing, med/surg unit, has been inducted into the Tenet Heroes Hall of Fame, Tenet Healthcare Corporation’s (NYSE: THC) highest honor for employees, at a ceremony in Dallas, Texas, on January 31.

Ashmore has a particular passion for the elder population, a calling that has motivated her to find innovative new ways of providing specialized quality care for memory-impaired patients. Ashmore developed a process for the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center staff to help identify and meet the special needs of these patients. They are now identified by a special bracelet and are given a specific care plan to address their unique therapeutic needs while they are in the hospital. Ashmore has also been key in the development of the hospital’s one-of-a-kind Memory Disorders Evaluation Center.

In a specific example of Ashmore’s compassion, a 49-year-old terminally ill cancer patient flew to California to fulfill her last wish of seeing Morro Rock. Unfortunately, the patient fell, broke her ankle and had to be admitted to the hospital. Hearing the patient’s story, Ashmore tried to bring Morro Rock to the patient by creating a collage of photos, sand dollars and seashells from the area. On the day the patient was discharged, Ashmore arranged for the patient to visit Morro Rock at last.

“Our Tenet Hero inductees represent the best of who we are at Tenet and what we do as health care providers in the communities we serve,” said Trevor Fetter, Tenet’s president and chief executive officer.  “The innovative ideas, extraordinary service and dedication to quality care provided by professionals like Remonia serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Ashmore was one of seven employees inducted into the Tenet Heroes Hall of Fame.  This year’s recipients were chosen from almost 100 nominations.  Tenet Heroes are nominated by their hospital’s leadership team and selected based on their dedication to their patients, co-workers and communities.  The Tenet Heroes Hall of Fame recognizes exceptional employees who demonstrate Tenet’s values of quality, integrity, service, innovation and transparency and represent the best of who we are and what we do.

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Tenet Healthcare Corporation [NYSE: THC] announced today that Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has been named to the company’s 2012 Circle of Excellence.

The Circle of Excellence honors Tenet hospitals that have achieved the highest levels of quality, service and operational performance.  Key metrics used to evaluate the hospitals were patient, physician and employee satisfaction scores, clinical quality and financial performance.

“The hard work, determination and commitment of the employees at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center made 2011 a great year for the hospital,” said Stephen L. Newman, M.D., Tenet’s vice chairman.  “The staff and physicians at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center continue to build on their high-quality care and outstanding patient satisfaction.  I’m proud of everything they have accomplished and am delighted to honor them with Tenet’s Circle of Excellence Award.”

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center CEO Candace Markwith added, “The dedication to providing high-quality care by our nurses, physicians and staff earned Sierra Vista this honor, and I can say without a doubt that it is well deserved.”

Tenet Healthcare Corporation is a health care services company whose subsidiaries and affiliates own and operate acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and diagnostic imaging centers.  Tenet’s hospitals and related health care facilities are committed to providing high quality care to patients in the communities they serve. 

Text Area 1: Seeking cancer program accreditation by the Commission on Cancer, Sierra Vista has concentrated its efforts to ensure full compliance of a total of 36 commission standards. To gain approval, it must demonstrate that patients receive the following:

·        Quality care close to home.

·        Comprehensive care offering a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment.

·        A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best cancer treatment options available.

·        Access to cancer-related information, education and support.

·        A cancer registry that collects data on cancer type, stage and treatment results, and offers lifelong patient   follow-up.

·        Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.

·        Information about clinical trials and new treatment options.

·        Evaluation of patient outcomes that includes documentation and dissemination of results.

·        Submission of data to the National Cancer Data Base that meets its quality criteria.

·        Staging of cancer in the medical record by the managing/treating physician.

·        Adherence to commission-required guidelines for patient management in pathology reports.

·        Availability of screening & early detection services on site or coordinated with outside agencies. 

·        Participation of cancer registry staff in local, state, regional and national cancer-related activities.

·        Ongoing implementation of quality and performance improvements.

The Sierra Vista Cancer Committee serves in the key leadership role to plan, initiate, implement, evaluate and improve all cancer-related activities at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. Physicians, nursing administrators, diagnostic and therapeutic specialists, allied health professionals and representatives from ancillary services comprise its multidisciplinary membership.  The committee convenes four times yearly, focusing on community outreach programs, disease and treatment performance measures, quality of care outcomes and educational opportunities.

Text Area 1: The Volunteer Auxiliary at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center recently donated $12,200  in funding and scholarships to 16 local organizations. The four largest grants included $2,000 to the Cal Poly Endowment Fund and $1500 to the Eleanor Sears Cuesta Endowment Fund.  

Other grants include:

·         Meals On Wheels ($1200)

·         SLO Noor Foundation ($1,00)

·         Cuesta College Endowment Fund ($1,000)

·         Cuesta College Book Grants; Nursing Program ($1,000)

·         Hospice Partners of the Central Coast ($1,000)

·         Camp Hapitok for Children ($750)

·         CASA -- Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children ($750)

·         DeGroot Home for Disabled Children, Santa Lucia SLO Cancer Society, Area Agency on Aging (HICAP), Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County, Hotline of San Luis Obispo ($500 each)

The Sierra Vista Volunteer Auxiliary is comprised of more than 100 volunteers who donate in excess of 25,000 volunteer hours to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center each year. In addition to being responsible for the Information Desk in the main lobby of the hospital, the Volunteer Auxiliary also operates the Hospital Gift Shop, the Cuddlers Program in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and other duties that assist in the smooth functioning of the hospital.

Text Area 1: Following many months of implementing clinical quality standards, The Selma Carlson Diagnostic Center at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Selma Carlson is the only hospital-based breast imaging center in San Luis Obispo County to achieve this recognition.

The Selma Carlson Diagnostic Center has also earned ACR accreditation in Ultrasound, Breast Ultrasound , Breast Biopsy with Ultrasound and Computer Tomography as the result of previous surveys. The Selma Carlson Diagnostic Center features digital mammography, recently installed some of the newest technology for stereotactic breast biopsy and is the only breast imaging center to feature the MammoPad for a warmer, more comfortable experience.

By awarding facilities the status of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy).

Peer-review evaluations, conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field, have determined that Sierra Vista has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

The Selma Carlson Diagnostic Imaging Center offers same day appointments. For an appointment please call 546-7733.