Pride in Our People
New Hope for Parkinson's Patients
Vilma Miller, 78, of Bethlehem (right), pictured here with physical therapist Nancy Castaldo, has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for three years. But thanks to the new Get Up and Go program, she’s able to get gentle exercise and tips to help control her Parkinson’s. “It’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” Miller says. The group meets every Tuesday at LVH–Muhlenberg and also provides a forum for family and friends who care for their loved ones.
Talk of the TownCongressman Charlie Dent (far right) of the 15th district (including Lehigh and Northampton counties) joined Robert Stead of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a Town Hall Meeting at LVH–Cedar Crest. The topic: the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program. The forum gave approximatley 150 Lehigh Valley citizens an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.
Meet Richard the RobotLVH–Muhlenberg pharmacy director Christina Marucci (left) and pharmacy technician Coleen Schmick hold a single-packed dose of medication selected by the hospital's brand-new robot. Affectionately called “Richard,” the robot uses bar-code technology to select and fill individually wrapped doses of medication for patients, improving accuracy and safety. Richard is our pharmacy department’s second robot, joining “Robby,” the pharmacy robot at LVH–Cedar Crest.
This Won’t Hurt a BitCatherine Monhollen, CRNP at the Center for Women’s Medicine, was one of more than 150 volunteers helping administer free influenza vaccinations to more than 3,100 Lehigh Valley residents in November. This clinic, held at LVH–Cedar Crest, included both walk-up and, for the first time, drive-through vaccinations, designed to best accommodate adults with disabilities. A second clinic was held at LVH–Muhlenberg in December.
Statewide Safety ExcellenceWe’re one of the safest hospitals in Pennsylvania. This year, we earned the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence by achieving significant reductions in needle-stick injuries, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)-recordable injuries and illnesses, and lost workday cases. Accepting the honor from Pa. Dept. of Labor and Industry Secretary Stephen M. Schmerin (fourth from left) are colleagues (l-r) Anna Marie Phillips, Rose Lippy, Karlene Britzenhoff, John Lehr, Don Hougendobler, Jerry Kresge, Barbara Caserta, Michael Mauser and Tim Docherty.
Tree of Light
Loved ones view a memory tree planted in the LVH–17th and Chew garden. Its white lights were purchased by family and friends to honor and memorialize more than 200 Lehigh Valley Hospice patients and were lit during a recent Tree of Light ceremony. The lights will glow through January. Several hospice volunteers suggested the idea to Arlene Turner, coordinator of hospice volunteer services. “They had heard of similar ceremonies held across the country, and we thought it was a great way to remember those we’ve cared for each year,” Turner says. More than $10,000 was raised for hospice services. Lehigh Valley Hospice also recognized its 25th anniversary and offered tours of its newly renovated inpatient unit at LVH–17th and Chew.
Be an LVHHN AdvocateCollette Heffron (left) wanted a second opinion when her husband was prescribed a medication to treat MS from another hospital. Her friend, endocrine testing coordinator Roberta Hower, R.N., took initative to make sure it happened—she scheduled an appointment for them at our MS Center, where doctors determined the medication was prescribed prematurely.
Have you referred a patient to LVHHN? If so, call 610-402-3175 or e-mail Richard.Martuscelli@lvh.com. Your story may be featured in CheckUp.
This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
