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Reading Health System Earns Innovation Award for Program to Improve Employee Health

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Reading Health System received an award from the Lehigh Valley Business Coalition on Healthcare for its Primary Care Plus™ program, an initiative launched in collaboration with East Penn Manufacturing, Capital BlueCross, and Banyan Consulting. Each of these organizations were cited by this business leadership group for their role in demonstrating a unique approach to employee health, wellness, and productivity.

Primary Care Plus is a program that engages Reading Health System's primary care physicians, Reading Hospital staff, and network of clinical resources in delivering primary health services with a focus on improving quality of care and reducing cost.

East Penn employees and their family members enrolled in the Capital BlueCross HMO plan benefit from an enhanced level of services from both Reading Health System and Capital BlueCross. These services, coordinated through the individual's selected physician, include access to registered nurse care navigators to provide information and education about health issues and plans of care; to pharmacists who can discuss new medicines or changes in medicine; and to other chronic disease management experts to help keep individuals as healthy as possible.

Banyan Consulting provides data analytics to measure the program's effectiveness and identify additional opportunities to improve patient health.

Accepting these Innovation Awards were: Richard Jones, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Reading Health System; Robert Johnston, Benefits Manager, East Penn Manufacturing; Tracy Onorofsky, Senior Vice President, Commercial Group Sales, Capital BlueCross; and Scott Fair, Executive Vice President, Banyan Consulting.

Lehigh Valley Business Coalition is a multi-state, not-for-profit coalition of employers striving to provide the best healthcare coverage possible for their employees in the most economical fashion. Its mission is to improve the delivery, cost, and quality of health care in its communities.

Reading Hospital Dietician to Talk Nutrition with Market Customers

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Jessica Norris, registered dietician from Reading Hospital, will be at the Penn Street Market on Friday, June 14, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., to talk with customers about good nutrition. Norris will focus on the importance of including fresh fruits and vegetables in daily diets.

This free informational service is an initiative of the Community Health Project cooordinated by Reading Hospital's Stephanie Kuppersmith in partnership with the Penn Street Market.

"I was pleased when Reading Hospital reached out to me and volunteered to have a dietician come to the Penn Street Market to talk about good eating practices," said Sheila Miller, Berks County's Agricultural Coordinator. "Fresh fruits and vegetables, purchased from our farmer vendors, are key components to good nutrition."

Penn Street Market is an outdoor farmers market located in the 800 Block of Penn Street in the city of Reading. It is open every Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. throughout the summer until Friday, October 4th. Shoppers can find vegetables, fruit, baked goods, eggs, and other refreshments from local vendors. Free parking is available in the 9th and Cherry Street lot.

Music in the Market on June 14 will be provided by local musician Dave Adams from 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. Callowhill Café is the featured restaurant with hours from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

For more information about Penn Street Market: www.pennstreetmarket.org.

Reading Health System Elects Board Chairman, Vice Chairman, Five Members

Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

^Hammel

^Work

^Wagner

^Casey

^Flynn

^Sandel

^Sigal

^Brigham

Reading Health System Board of Directors elected a new chairman, vice chairman, and five directors, effective July 1, 2013.

Elected to a one-year term as chairman of the Board is Victor Hammel. Mr. Hammel has been a director since 1992, vice chairman since 2011, and a member of the Executive, Capital Resources, Human Resources, Community Benefit, and Governance Committees. Hammel currently serves as chairman and was formerly CEO of J. C. Ehrlich Co., Inc., which, until its sale in 2006, was the world’s largest privately owned pest control company.

Hammel succeeds C. Thomas Work, Esq., Board chairman since 2009. Work, who remains on Reading Health System’s Board, is a shareholder with Stevens & Lee, and chairs that regional law firm’s estates and trusts division.

Brent J. Wagner, MD, was elected vice chairman of the Board for a one-year term and director for a four-year term. Dr. Wagner is the immediate past president of Reading Hospital Medical Staff, chief of the section of diagnostic radiology, and in practice with West Reading Radiology Associates. A Board member since 2004, he co-chairs the Quality, Safety, and Physician Relations Committee, and serves on the Executive and Governance Committees of the Board.

Dr. Wagner is the first physician to serve in an executive position on the Board.

In addition to Dr. Wagner’s leadership role, Reading Health System Board elected five physicians to four-year directorships. This reflects the Board’s advancement toward clinical integration by expanding physician engagement in strategic decision-making.

Newly elected members are: John D. Casey, MD, president of Reading Hospital Medical Staff, chief of Reading Hospital’s section of orthopaedic surgery, and in practice with Orthopaedic Associates of Reading; Anne M. Flynn, MD, section of general surgery, with Flynn & Hanley Surgical Specialists; Kristen M. Sandel, MD, associate director of Reading Hospital’s department of emergency medicine, president-elect of the Berks County Medical Society, and young physician trustee for the Pennsylvania Medical Society; and Adam P. Sigal, MD, Medical Staff vice president and medical director of Reading Hospital’s observation unit. Robert A. Brigham, MD, chair of Reading Hospital’s department of surgery and in practice with Reading Health Physician Network — Vascular Surgical Specialists, was re-elected.

Completing terms as directors are: Mary Ellen Batman, immediate past president of The Friends of Reading Hospital and retired educator; former Reading Health System Board chairman Bruce P. Bengtson, retired executive with Maier’s Bakery; Robert J. Gibble, president of Gibble Consulting, LLC; Samuel A. McCullough, chairman, president, and CEO, of Griffin Holdings Group, LLC.; Richard M. Palmer, Jr., president and CEO of R.M. Palmer Co.; Elizabeth B. Rothermel, president, Berkshire Charitable Foundation; and Cecilia M. Smith, DO, chair of Reading Hospital’s department of medicine.

Reading Health System board membership now stands at 26, a planned reduction of three directorships.

West Reading Armed Forces Parade Near Campus Saturday

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The West Reading Armed Forces Day Parade will be held Saturday, May 18, starting at 1000 hours in the 800 block of Penn Avenue. The parade route will include South Third Avenue to Spruce Street, then left on South Seventh Avenue. Please note this if you will be coming to campus that day.

Thank you!

Emergency Preparedness Drill on Tuesday

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Reading Health System will be joined by local law enforcement, first responders, and other emergency officials in conducting a drill on Tuesday, May 14, on Reading Hospital’s West Reading campus. The drill will begin at 2 p.m. and end about 5 p.m.

Please note: there will be additional police, first responder, and other emergency vehicles on the campus throughout the drill. Be assured that this is only a DRILL, and not an indication of an actual emergency.

Volunteers Recognized by Reading Health System

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT

More than 220 volunteers attended the annual Volunteer Appreciation luncheon hosted by The Friends of Reading Hospital and by Reading Health System on Wednesday, April 24, at the Crowne Plaza Reading. Twenty-four of these individuals received special recognition for reaching 500-hour milestones, ranging from 500 to 9,500 hours, in donated service.

Therese Sucher, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Reading Hospital, expressed appreciation for the more than 72,000 total hours of service donated by 900 adult and junior volunteers over the past year. These volunteers include four-legged representatives, therapy dogs and one therapy cat, whose owners also donate their time to visit with patients through the Paws for Wellness Program.

In addition, volunteers: participate in the Raggedy Therapy, No One Dies Alone, and other patient visitation programs at Reading Hospital and Reading Health Rehabilitation Hospital; staff three Gift Shops; and work side-by-side with employees in 65 other departments, including the Emergency Department, Child Development Center, and Chaplaincy Services.

Volunteers support formal work groups to complete special service projects; plan and execute the annual Garden Party, Tower Golf Classic, Road Run, and other special events; and knit baby caps for newborns, chemotherapy caps for cancer patients, compassionate care hearts and prayer/friendship shawls for other patients.

Lil Murphy, President of The Friends of Reading Hospital, and Desha Dickson, Director of Volunteer Services at Reading Hospital, also spoke during the program. A video highlighting voluntarism at Reading Health System was also presented.

The Friends of Reading Hospital, all volunteers, provide strategic direction to volunteer initiatives that support the Hospital mission.

Reading Health System Receives Medal of Honor During National Donate Life Month

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Reading Health System celebrated National Donate Life Month with the Gift of Life Donors Program and the presentation of the Silver Medal of Honor from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 2.

Reading Health System is one of 19 hospitals to receive a Medal of Honor from HHS for successful donation and transplant outcomes. To earn the Medal of Honor, Reading Health System achieved a donation conversion rate of 75 percent, and expanded clinical processes for recovering organs through donations after cardiac death.

Gift of Life Donor Program - the region's organ procurement organization serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware - presented the Medal of Honor to Reading Health System President and CEO Clint Matthews on Tuesday.

Gift of Life-the region's non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware-works in partnership with 130 hospitals throughout our region to bring hope to thousands by coordinating life-saving and life-enhancing organ and tissue transplants.

Organ and tissue transplantation is a team effort, one that requires compassionate family-centered care and close collaboration between Gift of Life staff and the region's healthcare partners. Gift of Life encourages individuals to make the commitment to donate by registering online at www.donors1.org.

Celebrating Doctors Day 2013!

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Reading Health System takes this opportunity to thank our physicians for their passion, expertise, and dedication to the health and wellness of our communities! These extraordinary professionals dedicate their lives to the care of others, providing hope and healing, bringing comfort and second chances to patients and families every day.

Dr. Furukawa Named Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Reading Hospital

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Satoshi Furukawa, MD, joins Reading Hospital as Chief of the Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery, succeeding recently retired Ronald Nutting, MD.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Dr. Furukawa completed residencies in general and cardiothoracic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also fellowship trained in lung transplantation at HUP and Temple University Hospital.

Dr. Furukawa, of Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates of Reading in West Reading, comes to Berks County from Temple University and Jeanes Hospital where he served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Professor of Surgery at Temple University School of Medicine.

He has distinguished himself as an outstanding surgeon with special expertise in high-risk and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, as well as in heart and lung transplants. In addition, Furukawa is certified by the Joint Commission to perform lung volume reduction surgery to treat emphysema.

Selected as among the nation's top 1 percent of physicians in his field, Dr. Furukawa has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer reviewed articles, abstracts, and book chapters, most recently comparing outcomes of an artificial heart pump implanted in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Dr. Furukawa has also been listed in Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors edition for 10 years.

Reading Health System Expands Employee Fresh Produce Program to Include Community

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Reading Health System has partnered with Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative and Weaver’s Orchard2Office to provide employees and community members a weekly delivery of farm fresh produce, available for pick up from the Hospital beginning May 8.

The program has been such a great success with its employees that Reading Health System is now offering this healthy, convenient program to the local community as well and is becoming a community drop off site for Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative and Weaver’s Orchard2Office.

Participating is as simple as 1, 2, 3:

Log on to Lancaster Farm Fresh or Weaver’s Orchard2Office3. Pick up every Wednesday for the season.
Select the items to purchase and choose Reading Hospital as the drop site.
Pick up every Wednesday for the season.

Pick up time and location is the Second Floor of the Hospital’s Doctors Office Building located at 7th Avenue in West Reading from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

For more information, visit: http://www.readinghealth.org/farmfresh.

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Heart Program to Proceed Sunday

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

Reading Health System is hosting an educational and inspiring Heart Health program on Sunday, February 10, at 1 p.m., at the Crowne Plaza Reading, 1741 Paper Mill Road, Reading. This event will go on despite any weather issues.

The program features educational exhibits, a live Zumba^® fitness demonstration, inspiring speakers, great food, and of course, chocolate and wine. The event also includes inspirational speaker Dana Lightman, PhD, sharing practical strategies that promote a positive perspective, such as adopting an abundance attitude. The event also features an educational panel featuring local experts discussing the importance of saving precious minutes in a heart-related emergency by calling 9-1-1.

WHAT:	Reading Health System Heart Health Event
WHEN:	Sunday, February 10, 1 p.m.
WHERE:	Crowne Plaza Reading, 1741 Paper Mill Road, Reading, PA 19610
WHO:	Dana Lightman, PhD Charles F. Barbera, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAAEM, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Reading Hospital Christine M. McCarty, MD, Reading Health Physician Network Cardiothoracic Surgery Eric E. Elgin, MD, FACC, Cardiology Associates of West Reading Gail Knauer, EMT-P, Reading Fire Department

Reading Health System Successfully Moves to System-wide Electronic Health Record

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

Reading Health System successfully completed its installation of Reading HealthConnect, a comprehensive electronic health record system that creates “one patient, one record,” on Feb. 3.

All Reading Hospital inpatient departments are completely operating on Reading HealthConnect to streamline interactions between clinical information provided by physicians, hospitals, and satellite sites and the business data involved in registration, scheduling, and billing.

"With the Reading HealthConnect 'go live,' Reading Health System has completed in 18 months what many health systems take five years or more to achieve," said Reading Health System Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jorge Scheirer. "We expect any impact on operational efficiency to be short-term and expect daily improvement."

Currently, more than 65,000 clinically active patients have been added and are operational in the new system which enhances quality of care and clinical outcomes by allowing real-time access and updates to records as the patient navigates throughout the continuum of care.

Whether the individual visits a physician’s office, the hospital emergency department, or a laboratory testing site, the information is recorded immediately in the chart and is ready for viewing by any of the individual’s care providers. The information includes the patient’s medical history, family medical history, previous diagnoses, lab tests results, medications, allergies, and other data crucial in providing healthcare to the individual.

Patients may also access their records online through MyChart, a secure personal health record portal, via browser or mobile application. There are more than 7,000 current patients using MyChart, which allows them to:

View test results
View upcoming & past appointments
Request prescription refills
Provide updates to medication lists and allergy information
Communicate with the physician or physician’s office

By completing the Reading HealthConnect “go-live,” all inpatient nursing units and inpatient/outpatient departments of Reading Hospital and Reading Health Rehabilitation Hospital are added to the system, which also includes 32 physician practices, which were activated this past summer.

The conversion from siloed systems to Reading HealthConnect began in 2011 with the selection of Epic Systems Corporation, of Verona, Wisconsin, as Reading Health System’s partner in creating an electronic health record. Physicians, nurses, and other clinicians, as well as IT, records, finance, and registration experts provided input on selecting the software and participated in tailoring the program to fit specific needs.

Countless hours of training and education have been conducted in advance of the implementation, resulting in all physicians and staff members who touch patient records becoming certified in operating the electronic health record system.

In addition to staff training, more than 600 consultants who specialize in launching electronic health record systems have joined Reading Health System experts to provide “at the elbow” support during the initial weeks of operating the new system. A central command center is available 24/7 to also support users and resolve operational issues.

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Reading Health System Implements System-wide Electronic Health Record

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

Reading Health System implements Reading HealthConnect, a comprehensive electronic health record system, on Saturday, February 2, creating a “one patient, one chart” patient information system throughout its continuum of care.

The $150 million investment in Reading HealthConnect will enhance quality of care and clinical outcomes by allowing real-time access and updates to records as the patient navigates throughout the continuum of care.

By replacing multiple disparate legacy systems, Reading HealthConnect will also improve patient record quality as well as streamline interactions between clinical information provided by physicians, hospitals, and satellite sites and the business data involved in registration, scheduling, and billing for thousands of records processed throughout the system.

Patients may also access their records online through MyChart, a secure personal health record portal, via browser or mobile application. Through MyChart, individuals can:

View test results
View upcoming & past appointments
Request prescription refills
Provide updates to medication lists and allergy information
Communicate with the physician or physician’s office

The “go-live” on February 2 adds the inpatient nursing units and inpatient/outpatient departments of Reading Hospital and Reading Health Rehabilitation Hospital to 32 physician practices already using Reading HealthConnect in the ambulatory setting. These practices went live this past summer.

Background
The conversion from siloed systems to Reading HealthConnect began in 2011 with the selection of Epic Systems Corporation, of Verona, Wisconsin, as Reading Health System’s partner in creating an electronic health record. Physicians, nurses, and other clinicians, as well as IT, records, finance, and registration experts provided input on selecting the software and participated in tailoring the program to fit specific needs.

In addition to staff training, more than 600 consultants who specialize in launching electronic health record systems will join Reading Health System experts to provide “at the elbow” support during the initial weeks of operating the new system. A central command center will be available 24/7 to also support users and resolve operational issues.

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Dr. Ong Joins Reading Hospital Trauma Department

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

Adrian Ong, MD, joins Reading Hospital as the Director of Trauma Clinical Research and Clinical Provider in Reading Hospital’s Trauma Center.

Dr. Ong, a graduate of Boston University, completed his residency training in general surgery at the University of Iowa in 1998, and pursued fellowship training in both trauma and surgical critical care at Jackson Memorial Hospital at the University of Miami from July 1998 through June 2000.

His extensive clinical experience and expertise in clinical research will enhance the “advance trauma care close to home” mission of Reading Hospital’s Section of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care.

As a Level II Trauma Center, Reading Hospital provides definitive care for severely injured adult and pediatric patients with complex trauma 24/7 with a specialized trauma team. The core trauma service line includes trauma surgeons who are trained in trauma surgery and critical care, emergency department nurses and physicians, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants; radiology, operating room, and ICU staff; blood bank personnel; and a chaplain. Reading Hospital has been a level Trauma II Center since 2005.

Dr. Ong returned to his native Singapore from August 2000 through June 2002 to serve as Associate Consultant and Teaching Fellow in the Department of Surgery at National University Hospital of Singapore.

Dr. Ong comes to Berks County from Allegheny General Hospital where he served for 10 years as attending surgeon on the trauma and surgical critical care staff, including four years of service as Medical Director of Allegheny’s Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit, as well as being an adjunct associate professor of surgery at Temple University.

Dr. Ong has 13 peer-reviewed papers, and has published a host of case reports and book chapters. His publications focus on a wide variety of trauma and critical care topics, including management of splenic injury, cervical spine injury in geriatric patients, and ultrasound evaluation of pediatric blunt trauma.

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Reading Hospital Program Helps Uninsured

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

Reading Hospital’s new Commitment to Providing Affordable Care (C2PAC) program offers financial counseling and provides discounts for uninsured patients.

C2PAC makes information and counseling services more readily available to all qualified patients. Patients are encouraged to enter the C2PAC program as early in the treatment process as possible. Patients are encouraged to enter the C2PAC program as early in the treatment process as possible. All C2PAC patients will be afforded the opportunity to meet with certified patient financial counselors and resource eligibility specialists to determine eligibility for programs such as Medical Assistance, Disability, COBRA, PA Fair Care, Charity Care, and receive information on available community programs. C2PAC includes urgent, non-elective, emergent services, and several other pre-approved and pre-screened services.

The hospital commits to notifying patients of their financial obligations within 24 hours of service, following financial counseling. The hospital also extends additional discounts above the C2PAC discounts under the following guidelines.

Prompt pay - 25% additional discount if full C2PAC rate is paid at Point of Service
Berks County - 10% additional discount upon proof of Berks county residence

Implantables, high-cost drugs, DME and contracted services will be provided to the patient at hospital cost. All physician services provided by private physicians are not subject to the C2PAC discount at this time, and patients will need to contact the physician directly to determine any physician fees.

For more information on RHS’ C2PAC, contact Reading Hospital Financial Counseling Office at 484-628-3528 or via email at C2PAC@readinghealth.org.

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