FALL 2013Anterior Hip Replacement at the Orthopaedic & Spine Institute

Abington Certified as Comprehensive Stroke Center

Comprehensive Heart Failure Program

Beating Gynecologic Cancers by Asking the Right Questions

Ideas for Healthy Living – Health Education Classes

And Much More…

� DRIVE,

� BEND DOWN,

� CROSS THEIR LEGS,

� WALK UP AND

DOWN STAIRS, OR

� RETURN TO WORK.

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Andrew M. Star, MD, medical director of Abington Health’s Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, has pioneered many advanced techniques in orthopaedic surgery and leads an experienced and committed team of clinicians.

“EVERY PERSONIS UNIQUE.THE TYPE OF HIP REPLACEMENT AND THEIR

CARE IS PERSONALIZED FOR EACH PATIENT,” says Star. “Patients who are able to have the anterior approach are recovering quicker,many leaving within 24 hours. Anything we can do to return our patients to their normal activities is a top priority for us.”

Anterior Hip Replacement at the Orthopaedic & Spine Institute

The operating rooms in the Orthopaedic & Spine Institute at Abington Memorial Hospital and at Lansdale Hospital are both equipped with the unique Hana Table. This technologically advanced table allows surgeons to optimize the position of the patient on the table. Moving the table instead of the patient, trauma is minimized, in a way that is not possibleusing a conventional surgical table. The patient’s leg can be extended in a manner that enhances the natural opening between the muscles. The surgical incision does not cutthrough the muscle, rather, the muscle is spared, offering quicker recovery and return to normal activities.

ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT VOLUME –

Over 1,500 HIPS REPLACED THROUGH THE

ANTERIOR PROCEDURE

YEARSOF EXPERIENCE PERFORMING

THE ANTERIOR PROCEDURE

of all hip replacement patients do not need urinary catheters post-operatively.

After surgery, patients can return to normal activities more quickly:

Jeffrey J. Vakil, MD and Andrew M. Star, MD

Smaller incision spares muscles

ABOUT THREE TO FOUR INCHES

VS. EIGHT TO 10 WITH TRADITIONAL HIP REPLACEMENT OR POSTERIOR APPROACH

HANA TABLE

OUR EXPERIENCE IN HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

GET BACK TO NORMALROUTINE FASTER

REDUCED NEED FOR CATHETERS

Small incision in upper thigh

Access to hip joint between muscle intervals –no cut required

7YEAR STARTED

DOING ANTERIOR

PROCEDURE 2007 90%

Rita Leinheiser, 63, of Jenkintownwas thrilled with her anterior hip replacement experience at Lansdale Hospital. “Because of the anterior procedure, I was ableto walk to the bathroom the sameday as my surgery and within twodays I was home and walking upsteps, with no restrictions.

“IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE. Everything was perfectly synchronized and organized. My surgeon, Jeffrey J. Vakil, MD,and the nurses and all the staffmembers were responsive and delightful. I would not hesitate todo it again when the time comesto replace my other hip.

“I am back to swimming, kayaking and golfing. In fact, my golf game has improved!”

For more information about ourminimally invasive procedures in hip, knee and spine care, visitwww.abingtonhealth.org/bone or call us at 215-481-BONE (2663).

Abington Health

Orthopaedic & Spine Institutejoints | spine | sports | hands | trauma | rehab

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Rita Leinheiser

SPARES MUSCLES VS. CUTS MUSCLES

PATIENT SATISFACTION

LANSDALE HOSPITAL, NEARLY PERFECT AT

ABINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL –

OUR PATIENTS ARE HAPPY

94%99%!There are so many options regarding joint replacements.

Well-educated patients are confident when making decisions.Come and learn, and bring your questions. Our surgeons will educate and answer your questions about anterior hip replacement, quad-sparing knee replacement and minimally invasive procedures.

dates: Wednesday, October 16 location: AHC – Blue Bell

dates: Wednesday, October 23 location: AHC – Warminster

dates: Wednesday, November 13 location: Abington Memorial Hospital

time: 6:30 to 8:30 PM

to register: 215-481-2204 or www.amh.org

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWABOUT JOINT REPLACEMENTS

SEMINARS • WORKSHOPS

FREE

Earning Comprehensive Stroke Center certification was no easy task.

To qualify, Abington Health’s Neurosciences Institute was required to meet high standardsfor treating the most serious stroke cases. But the Abington stroke team welcomed thechallenge and the new opportunity to servethe needs of our patients. As a result of our effort, Abington’s Diamond Stroke Center is now one of the few healthcare facilities inthe country (and one of only seven in Pennsylvania) to achieve status as a certifiedComprehensive Stroke Center.

To qualify as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the hospital must demonstrate advanced capabilities beyond what is required for aPrimary Stroke Center. These additionalstandards include:� Use advanced imaging capabilities.� Meet requirements for providing care to

patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage; performing endovascular coiling or surgical clipping procedures for aneurysm; and administering IV rT-PA. (Intra-arterial rT-PA is also available at AMH.)

� Participate in stroke research.� Use a peer review process to evaluate

and monitor the care provided to patients with ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

� Coordinate post-hospital care for patients.

“This designation is a great source of pride for our organization,” said Laurence M. Merlis, president and chief executive officer, Abington Health, “and comes after a decade of hard work by many talented clinicians and support staff.”

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Abington Joins Fewer than One Percent of Hospitals Nationwide Certified as Comprehensive Stroke Centers

We’re so proud to be among the first.

Know the warning signs of stroke

“Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification confirms that the Neurosciences Institute is one of an

elite group of providers – including our center city colleagues at Penn and Jeff – focused on complex

stroke care. It gives us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our

patients and our community.” JOHN J. KELLY, MD | CHIEF OF STAFF, ABINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

“Our staff has an unwavering commitment toproviding patients with the highest qualitystroke care based on current scientific research,” said John J. Kelly, MD, chief of staff, Abington Memorial Hospital. “Comprehensive Stroke Center Certificationconfirms that the Neurosciences Institute isone of an elite group of providers – includingour center city colleagues at Penn and Jeff –focused on complex stroke care. It gives us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our patients and our community.”

For more than 30 years, Abington MemorialHospital has devoted extensive resources to treating stroke. The Diamond Stroke Center, under the medical direction of

Face: Ask the person to smile.Does one side of the face droop?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 immediately. Do not delay – brain cells are dying.

Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Qaisar A. Shah, MD and Osman S. Kozak, MD

Karin Jonczak, CRNP and Larami G. MacKenzie, MD

Dan J. Gzesh, MD, was established to aligncritical hospital resources for emergency stroke intervention and follow-up.

To our dedicated hospital team, achieving Comprehensive Stroke Center certification is a source of pride. To our community, it’s reassurance that the resources and expertise to treat the most difficult stroke cases will be ready and waiting if needed.

The Diamond Stroke Center is named in honor of its founder, the late B. Franklin Diamond, MD, who worked tirelessly with colleague Deborah Murphy, CRNP, clinical director, Neurosciences Institute, to advancestroke care in the Delaware Valley.

For more information about the NeurosciencesInstitute’s Diamond Stroke Center, visit ourwebsite, www.abingtonhealth.org/brain.

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To Natalia Tsymuk, 31, and her husband,Sergy, her pregnancy was “a miracle,” shesays. “We’d been trying to conceive for sevenyears, and we were so excited to becomeparents. I was 19 weeks pregnant in July2012, and everything was looking fine.”

But one afternoon she suddenly felt dizzy,and her right arm started going numb. “By the time my neighbor helped me upstairs, my entire right side was paralyzed,and I could no longer speak,” she says.

The Northeast Philadelphia resident wastaken to Abington Memorial Hospital. Even though she couldn’t speak, staff in theEmergency Trauma Center knew that shecould still understand them. “They explained everything they were doing, and reassuredme that my baby was okay,” she says.

Qaisar A. Shah, MD, director of Neurovascular and Neurocritical Care in the Neurosciences Institute, was the first toshed light on what had happened to her: A tangle of blood vessels in her brain, calledan arteriovenous malformation or AVM, had started to bleed.

In most cases AVMs are treated quickly toavoid the chance of a second bleedingepisode. But the treatment, which would include radiation and anesthesia, would poseunknown risks to the baby. So she and Sergydecided to wait until the baby was born.

Natalia returned home after a month in thehospital, and her baby came a few weeksearly, on November 4. On December 4, Natalia returned to Abington for a procedureto cure her AVM. First, Dr. Shah blocked offthe abnormal blood vessels with a glue-likesubstance delivered through a catheter, in a procedure called an endovascular embolization. Then Steven J. Barrer, MD,chief of Neurosurgery and medical director of the Neurosciences Institute, performedopen brain surgery, removing a portion of her skull and excising the AVM.

Natalia spent the next two weeks recoveringat Abington and a local rehab facility. “At first, I was very weak and in a lot of pain,but every day, I got a little better. I was focused on getting home in time for Mary’sfirst Christmas.” She got her wish on December 19, just in time for the holiday. “A day later, Dr. Shah stopped by to meetMary and deliver a Christmas gift.”

Today, Mary is a bright and happy baby whocontinues to inspire her mother’s recovery.Natalia’s speech has completely returned tonormal, she can walk with minor difficulty, andshe’s gradually regaining function in hershoulder and upper arm.

“I’m optimistic that I’ll continue to recover and even play the violin again, as I used to do,” she says. “I feel very grateful and very blessed.”

Exercises to Help with VertigoIf only Jimmy Stewart’s character in theHitchcock film “Vertigo” had received somemedication or physical therapy for his debilitating dizziness. But if you’re sufferingfrom vertigo or balance problems, you cando something about it. Specifically, there are exercises you can perform to help youregain independence and get back to yournormal daily routine.

First, a little background: Millions of people suffer from balance problems and vertigo, which can be the result of twomain problems.

“Vertigo can be divided into causesoriginating in the brain, such as stroke andmultiple sclerosis, or causes in the inner ear, the latter being more frequent,” said Lee J. Harris, MD, chief, Neurology Divisionand medical director of the Balance Center

at Abington Health’s Neurosciences Institute.“The inner ear helps to control balance, andit can be damaged as a result of an ear infection, head injury, or when a small fragmented calcium crystal is knocked out ofplace, a condition known as BPPV [benign paroxysmal positional vertigo].”

While your doctor might recommendphysical therapy and certain medications totreat your condition, you can help improveyour balance by doing simple exercises athome. It’s important to gradually increasethe intensity of your exercises, so do whatyou can in the beginning. Please visit ourwebsite at www.amh.org/balanceexercisesfor a variety of exercises to help improveyour balance.

For more information about the BalanceCenter at the Neurosciences Institute, visitour website at www.abingtonhealth.org/brainor call 215-441-6777.

To read more about Natalia, or for more information about Abington Health’s Neurosciences Institute, visit our website at www.abingtonhealth.org/brain.

DELICATE BRAIN PROCEDURE FOR NEW MOM

Sergy, Mary and Natalia Tsymuk

STaFF experTISeAbington’s program brings together cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiologynurse practitioners, cardiac nurses, physician’sassistants, social workers, dietitians and otherswho specialize in caring for individuals with congestive heart failure.

The co-medical director of the CHF program,Donald Haas, MD, is board certified in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology – one of very few such physicians in the region.

Board-certified cardiologists across the specialtybring knowledge and experience in heart failure.

You get:� Quick access to the Heart Failure Team.� Regular and timely communication with your

cardiologist and primary care provider.� Nurse practitioners who specialize in

heart failure in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

� A specially designed home heart failure program.

TreaTmenT and TeCHnOlOgy OpTIOnSThe correct diagnosis and prognosis of yourcondition is critical. Abington’s CHF program offers the latest non-invasive testing to diagnoseyour condition and evaluate your situation so we can develop a treatment plan designedspecifically for you and your lifestyle.

Treatment options for CHF are advancing rapidly and your care team should be activelykeeping pace with state-of-the-art therapies.

Abington specialists provide:� A full range of treatment options, including

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) and cardiac resynchronization, which are only available at a few local academic medical centers.

� Access to clinical trials: Jarvik/RELIVE; RoadMAP and others.

� Electrophysiology for treatment of afibrillation.� Aquapheresis for mechanical fluid removal.� Cardiac device monitoring for more effective

management from your home.� Optimization of CRT devices (biventricular

pacemakers for heart failure) to achieve its maximum benefit.

By providing a comprehensive team and a fullrange of treatment options all at one location,Abington’s CHF program gives you the assurance that the care you need, at everystage of your disease, will be available.� Outpatient visits can be scheduled quickly –

usually on the same day – thereby avoiding trips to the Emergency Trauma Center.

� Care is coordinated throughout the program, from inpatient, to outpatient, to your home setting.

� Ongoing communication with your primary care physician involves everyone in your care.

� Our disease-specific certification in advancedheart failure by the Joint Commission gives you assurance that Abington is at the top of its game in heart failure treatment.

6

Heart and Vascular Institute

With more than half a million people

being diagnosed with congestive heart

failure (CHF) each year, it’s important

to know not only how to prevent the

disease, but what your treatment

options are if you are diagnosed with

CHF - a condition in which the heart

is no longer able to pump out

enough oxygen-rich blood.

One thing is clear:

NO ONE TREATMENTPLAN FITS ALL.

That’s why a comprehensive CHF

program is always the best choice –

where you can meet with a full team and

have access to a variety of options, and

specialists, for your particular

circumstances and your stage

in the disease spectrum.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

HOW DOES THIS HELP YOU?

Your cardiologist or primary care physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner can refer you to the Comprehensive Heart Failure Program. For more information, visit our website at:www.abingtonhealth.org/chf or call 215-481-4100.

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� Maintain a Healthy Weight:Obesity can lead to heart failure, so it’s important to get to a healthy weight and maintain it.

� Limit Fats and Cholesterol: Reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in your diet.

� Restrict Salt Intake: Consuming too much sodium can cause your body to retain water, which makes your heartwork harder. You should cap your salt intake to no more than 1,500 mg a day.

� Quit Smoking: Smoking not only damages blood vessels, raises blood pressure and reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, but it also eliminates you as a candidate for a heart transplant.

� Exercise: Reduce the demands on your heart muscle by engaging in moderate aerobic activity.

� Reduce Stress: Anxiety is known to increase your heart and breathing rate, which can make your heart failure condition worse.

� Limit Alcohol: Alcohol weakens your heart muscle, increases your risk of abnormal heart rhythms, and can negatively interact with your medication.

There are ways in which you can take preventative measures to

eliminate or at least reduce your chances of developing heart failure.

According to Donald Haas, MD, medical director of the Ventricular Assist Device Program at Abington Memorial Hospital, heart failure syndromecan be diagnosed for one of two reasons. “Either there’s a fluid overloadin the main chamber of the heart, which is the most common, or theheart’s not circulating enough blood,” Dr. Haas said. “When organs aren’t getting enough blood flow for oxygen and nutrients, they start to shut down.”

As a result, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body, which eventually causes it to weaken over time. And when thishappens, your kidneys start to retain fluid and sodium, which builds up inyour body and causes further damage to your body.

“HEART FAILURE CAN OFTEN BE PREVENTED. It’s important to address the risk factors and take medications prescribed by your doctor,” Dr. Haas said.

So who’s at risk? Those with a pre-existing condition where the heart isstructurally abnormal, known as cardiomyopathy. “This can occur in people whose hearts are weakened and dilated, or in those whose hearts can’t relax properly,” said Dr. Haas. People with conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and coronary arterydisease are also at a greater risk for developing cardiomyopathy and subsequent heart failure syndrome. Since these conditions aren’t reversible, it’s crucial they’re treated with proper medication.

PREVENTING HEART FAILURE SOme quICk TIpS TO managIng yOur rISkSOF HearT FaIlure:

VAD PATIENT 110% BETTERHarry ehly of gwynedd has been a patient of the Comprehensive Heart Failure program at amH for seven years.In February, a left ventricular assist device (Vad) was implantedby rohinton morris, md, chief, cardiothoracic surgery. “I amvery happy with all the staff at abington, and definitely would recommend the program,” says mr. ehly. “I feel 110% better thanbefore the procedure. I am walking and doing things I haven’tdone in years.”

For more information about our program, visit www.abingtonhealth.org/chf or call 215-481-4200.

Harry Ehly

n a crisp autumn day last fall,Suzanne Singh of Lansdale noticed the text messages on her cell phone looked blurry. Her vision problems were an

early indication that a brain aneurysm (a bulgein a weakened cerebral blood vessel) waspressing on her brain. A few hours later, emergency medical services and subsequentlyAbington Health’s Neurosciences Institute expertise saved Suzanne’s life.

In Lansdale Hospital’s Emergency Department,Gerald F. O’Malley, DO, ordered a CT scan for Suzanne, which showed a suspectedaneurysm. Using the Telemedicine connectionthat links Abington’s specialists with emergency physicians at hospitals throughoutthe region, the LH team consulted with Qaisar A. Shah, MD, director of Neuro-interventional and Neurocritical Care Servicesat our Neurosciences Institute. He viewed her

CT images remotely from a secure laptop atAbington. Dr. Shah saw that Suzanne’s brainaneurysm had ruptured and blood was leakinginto the subarachnoid space between herbrain and the membrane covering it. Using the connection, which includes high-resolutionimaging, Dr. Shah determined that Suzanneshould be transported immediately to Abington Memorial Hospital, which has theadvanced equipment and specialized neurocritical care she required.

t AMH, a CT angiogram showeda four-millimeter aneurysm in anartery on the right side of herbrain. The neurocritical care team stabilized Suzanne,

getting her blood pressure under control and managing her headache pain. Suzanne hadswelling inside the ventricles – spaces in thebrain that contain cerebral spinal fluid. “If thisaccumulated blood clots, it can block thedrainage of spinal fluid,” explains Dr. Shah.“Spinal fluid must drain or it will accumulate,putting pressure on the brain, which can resultin brain damage.”

To ensure Suzanne’s spinal fluid kept draining, a temporary external drainage system was created. Dr. Shah collaborated with Larami G. MacKenzie, MD, associate director, Neurocritical Care, to drill a small holein Suzanne’s skull and insert a narrow tube intothe ventricles. The tube was connected to anexternal drainage bag and monitor.

Then, from a tiny incision in Suzanne’s groin,Dr. Shah inserted a catheter (a thin tube) intothe femoral artery. Using advanced X-ray guidance, he maneuvered the catheterthrough the blood vessel, to the precise areaof the brain where the aneurysm was located.Next, he inserted a microcatheter into theaneurysm to place several tiny, platinum coilsat the opening of the aneurysm. The coilssealed off the aneurysm, cutting its blood supply so it wouldn’t bleed again or grow.

Suzanne was admitted to the NeurocriticalCare Unit, where the medical team monitoredher closely while she recovered and regainedher strength. Dr. Shah removed her externaldrainage tube on the fifth day after her procedure. She was discharged to her homeand family on the eleventh day, with no signsof complications.

hen I was feeling better, I spent a lot of time researching brainaneurysms,” says Suzanne. “Somany stories ended tragically –with disability or death.” The

statistics are grim. Nearly one-third of thosewho experience a subarachnoid hemorrhagenever make it to the hospital. Of those whoget to the hospital for treatment, nearly one-third experience some level of disabilityafter the ordeal.

“I am so grateful to every person who caredfor me…the paramedics, emergency doctorsand nurses and all the staff at Lansdale and Abington hospitals,” says Suzanne. “Because of them, I am alive and well. I told my husband when I agreed to participatein this article, that my story would be one with a happy ending.” Spoiler alert! Suzanne was right.

For more about Suzanne and our Neurosciences Institute, visit our website at www.abingtonhealth.org/brain, or call 215-481-MEDI (6334).

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BEATINGTHE ODDS Lansdale woman thrives after life-threatening brain aneurysm

Lansdale Hospital has been designated aPrimary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. Achievement of Primary StrokeCenter Certification signifies Lansdale Hospital’s dedication to fostering better outcomes for patients, and that their program meets critical elements of performance to achieve long-term successin improving outcomes for stroke patients.

Over the last six months, much timeand energy has been dedicated to refiningprocesses. After an exhaustive review of the entire workflow, the Joint Commissionsurveyor was very complimentary of the efforts made to treat this patient population.

Suzanne Singh

FOCUS ON LANSDALE HOSPITAL

Primary Stroke Center accreditation for Lansdale Hospital

All three Tomeos have had vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), one of the many bariatricsurgery procedures performed laparascopicallyby Fernando B. Bonanni, Jr., MD, at AbingtonMemorial Hospital’s Institute for Metabolic andBariatric Surgery. This procedure significantlyreduces the size of the stomach and removesthe portion that produces the hormone thatstimulates hunger.

Sam, who has severe kidney disease and willeventually require a kidney transplant, was thefirst to consider bariatric surgery after doctorstold him that, at 306 pounds, he was too overweight to have the transplant.

“We went to two information sessions at otherhospitals, but the team at Abington reallymade us feel that they would take care of us –and they did, every step of the way,” he says.“And we needed that support, because having this surgery requires a completelifestyle change.”

Sam had VSG in January 2012 and immediately began losing weight. His successconvinced Juliann, then a college freshman, to undergo the procedure as well.

“Despite being active, I had struggled with my weight and related medical problems foryears,” she says. “And I was tired of peopletelling me, ‘You have such a pretty face,’

implying that the rest of me wasn’t beautiful.”She had the surgery in July 2012, and by the time she returned to campus for her sophomore year, she had lost 40 pounds.

“Everyone was telling me how great I looked,and at first, I didn’t tell them that I’d had surgery,” she says. “But eventually I decidedto be open about it. I wanted people to knowthat this wasn’t the easy way out. The surgeryis a tool, not a solution.”

Lisa decided to have the procedure in February 2013 after learning that she is a potential kidney donor for Sam. “I knew I’dneed to lose weight and be as healthy as possible in order to donate, and after seeingmy husband and daughter through their operations, I knew what to expect.”

What she didn’t expect was how much moreenergetic she felt after the pounds startedcoming off. “My back, knees, and feet all feelmuch better,” she says. “It’s amazing howmuch the extra weight affected every joint.”

All three Tomeos attribute their success to supporting each other and following the directions of Dr. Bonanni and the Institute staff to the letter. “We do everything by the book,” Lisa says. “We also find the support group sessions to be very informativeand inspirational.”

They are committed to educating others andhelping to dispel fears about bariatric surgery.“I’d tell people considering surgery to put theirlong-term health and happiness first,” Juliannsays. “Adults who’ve had it say they got theirlife back, and as a young person, I know that Inow have a beautiful life ahead of me.”

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At time of going to print, the Tomeos reported the following accomplishments

on their path to better health:

Sabatino TomeoPre-op weight: 306 | Current weight: 243

Lisa TomeoPre-op weight: 219 | Current weight: 147

Juliann TomeoPre-op weight: 260 | Current weight: 158

The Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Abington Memorial Hospital offers free information sessions at a variety of locations throughout the year. For more information,

visit our website at www.amh.org/bariatricsurgery or call 215-481-2204.

The Tomeo family, of Holland, PA, love eating meals together. But it’s likely that

Sabatino (Sam), 58, his wife Lisa, 56, and daughter Juliann, 20, might share an entrée,

rather than fill each of their plates. And they’ll be more than satisfied.

Juliann, Sabatino and Lisa Tomeo

Lisa, Juliann and Sabatino Tomeo before surgery

Mention ovarian cancer and many women imagine a bleak futureor untimely death. At the Hanjani Institute for Gynecologic Oncology at Abington Memorial Hospital, however, cancer specialists are changing that forecast. In fact, they are managing

recurrent ovarian cancer as a chronic disease by providing new therapies to help women live with the disease over time – akin to themanagement of such chronic illnesses as diabetes or heart disease.

Ovarian cancer is serious and life-threatening. Fortunately, as is the case with many gynecologic cancers – including those of the uterus and cervix – ongoing advances in research and treatment enable oncologists to offer many women therapies that allow them to livelonger with ovarian cancer – sometimes for years.

THE ROLE OF RESEARCHThe role of research in advanced treatment options for gynecologic cancers at the Hanjani Institute is firmly rooted in the hospital’s membership in the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), a medical organization that continues to pave the way in gynecologic oncology trials, setting the standard for cancer research and treatment worldwide. As a founder of the Institute in 1992, Parviz Hanjani, MD, contributed to the cooperative efforts of a group of institutions that had been devoted to the study of gynecologic malignancies since 1970.

AMH is one of only 44 institutions nationwide to hold full membership in the GOG, which is funded in part by the National Cancer Institute. “Our patients are

benefitting from groundbreaking research and treatments for cancerthat you otherwise may find only at major university hospitals,” says Susan Nolte, PhD, director, Center for Clinical Research, Abington Health.

ADVANCED CLINICAL TRIALS AVAILABLE“By offering our patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials,we advance treatment through science,” says Mark S. Shahin, MD, director, Hanjani Institute. “Through clinical trials, we prove and validatetreatments that eventually become the standard of care. AMH has beena major contributor to studies that have led to breakthroughs in thetreatment of gynecologic cancer.”

“As an oncologist involved in clinical research, I certainly hope 10 yearsfrom now, I am doing something different from what I am doing todayin the treatment of cancer,” says Dr. Shahin. “If I am not, then my

specialty has failed my patients.”

MORE WOMEN ARE LIVING WITH CANCER TODAYJust two decades ago, the primary focus of treatment

for most gynecologic cancers was on patient survival. As scientists have discovered and proven the effectiveness of new

treatments, more women are living with cancer today. In addition to concentrating on survival, today’s clinician researchers are conducting clinical trials to answer more sophisticated questions about cancer, which are designed to

improve not only survival but the patient’s well-being and quality of life. More recently, women worldwide are benefittingfrom investigative studies that have led to improvements in

Beating Gynecologic Cancers by Asking the Right QuestionsONGOING RESEARCH LEADS TO BREAKTHROUGHS IN TREATMENT AND QUALITY OF L IFE

10

Continued on page 11

A

Nancy Lecron, 68, was diagnosed withovarian cancer in 2007. In July 2013, sheenrolled in her third clinical trial for ovarian cancer at Abington Memorial

Hospital (AMH) – a process she says is helpingto manage her disease and give her more time.

Nancy successfully completed initial treatmentfor ovarian cancer six years ago, and remained in remission for two years. After a second courseof treatment, she knew her cancer would return.Nancy wanted to do all she could to stay in remission for as long as possible. During thattime, she traveled to Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center, New York, where specialists recommended she enroll in a clinical trial, which also was being conducted at AbingtonMemorial Hospital. Because Nancy could getthe same treatment at AMH, which was closer to her home, she opted to make the 100-mileround trip between Birchrunville, PA, and Abington for care.

“Although I haven’t been in remission since2011, with each clinical trial, I received the standard of care that already has been proven to be effective for my type and stage of ovariancancer,” says Nancy. “At the same time, the trials presented the possibility that I mightreceive a new drug that has shown promise.Each experience was an opportunity to aid inthe process of finding a cure.”

the detection and diagnosis of gynecologic cancers, a better understanding of the genetics behind these malignancies and the role of imaging to help determine effectiveness after therapy.

Researchers also have experienced success with vaccines and biological therapies, which use the body’s immune system to fightcancer or to lessen side effects that may be caused by some treatments.

At any given time, the Center for Clinical Research at Abington Healthmay be conducting nearly 50 different gynecologic oncology trials.“Whether patients qualify for participation in clinical trials or not, theycan trust they are receiving comprehensive care from a nationally recognized program with decades of experience,” says Dr. Shahin.“And, it is comforting to know they can get the most advanced careavailable in one location, close to home.”

For more information about gynecologic oncology clinical trials atAMH, visit our website at www.amh.org/clinicaltrials.

“AMH HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO STUDIES THAT HAVE LED TO BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE

TREATMENT OF GYNECOLOGIC CANCER.”MARK S. SHAHIN, MD | DIRECTOR, HANJANI INSTITUTE

One patient’s PERSPECTIVE ONCLINICAL RESEARCH

“EACH EXPERIENCE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AID IN THE PROCESS OFFINDING A CURE.”

Mark S. Shahin, MD and Susan Nolte, PhD

11

Continued from page 10

Karen Sweeney, RN

12

First grade teacher Michelle Blair and her husband Brian had always wanted children.“We started trying soon after getting marriedin July 2009,” she says. “But – and I can’t explain this – my intuition told me that I mighthave trouble getting pregnant.”

After two miscarriages in 2010 and 2011, it seemed her fears were being realized. So the couple turned to Abington Memorial Hospital, where doctors deliver approximately5,000 babies a year and families have accessto experts in fertility, high-risk births andneonatal care.

A RARE IMBALANCETo find a root cause for the miscarriages,Michelle was referred to Jennifer Nichols, DO,at Abington Reproductive Medicine, for a battery of tests.

A close look at the genetic makeup ofMichelle’s chromosomes revealed that she hadwhat’s known as a “balance translocation,” a rare defect that affects only three to five percent of the population.

“We were devastated,” Michelle says. But notdeterred. She and Brian first tried five cycles ofintrauterine insemination (IUI), in whichMichelle was given medication to producemore eggs and Brian’s sperm was injected directly into her uterus. When that was unsuccessful, they proceeded to in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which involved retrievingMichelle’s eggs and manually injecting them with a single sperm (a process calledintra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)). A single cell from each of the resulting embryos was then tested for genetic abnormalities, a process called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

Once Michelle started the IVF process, the universe seemed to be sending out a sign thatshe was on the right path. “My entire family

started noticing hummingbirds everywhere,”she says. “We took that as a sign of hope.”

HOPE BLOSSOMSOn July 17, 2012, two viable embryos wereimplanted in Michelle’s uterus. A week wentby, and Michelle returned to Dr. Nichols’office for a blood test. And then came a voicemail message.

“It was Dawn Marie, one of the nurses from Dr. Nichols’ office,” Michelle recalls. “And shewas singing, ‘You are pregnant!‘”

A MUCH-ANTICIPATED ARRIVALOn April 9, Michelle and Brian welcomed Kynli Rae at Abington Memorial Hospital.

“I had the best birth experience at AbingtonMemorial,” she notes. “The private labor anddelivery and postpartum rooms were comfortable and enormous. And Kynli Rae was able to stay with me the entire time.”

Her words of advice to other struggling couples: “Stay focused on the end result, andtake one step at a time.” And, perhaps, holdout for any hopeful signs, which may keeppopping up when you least expect them.

Consider this: On his very first Father’s Day in June, Brian suddenly noticed a flicker ofmovement in the sky.

It was a hummingbird.

WO M E N ’ S H E A LT H

Every morning, little Kynli Rae Blair wakes up to the sight of a hummingbird painted on her

nursery wall. Someday her parents will tell her how hummingbirds seemed to appear at key

moments in their journey to bring her into the world, giving them hope just when they needed

a sign that they were on the right path.

For more information about the comprehensive maternity services at Abington Memorial Hospital, visit our website at: www.amh.org/maternity

or call our physician referral service, 215-481-MEDI.

Brian, Michelle and Kynli Rae Blair

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� Education regarding cancer risk factors and screenings.

� Access to behavioral health services.

� Education regarding Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) for geriatric patients.

� More accessible culturally and linguistically appropriate materials regarding health services.

� Education and services to address cardiac risk factors: smoking, obesity and hypertension.

� Access to care for the uninsured and underinsured.

Implementation of the plans is well underway as Abington Health works hard to continually improve its programs, health services, outreach and communication in its communities.

C O M M U N I T Y B E N E F I T R E P O R T

ABINGTON HEALTH ASSESSES HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY

Abington Memorial Hospital

(AMH), Lansdale Hospital (LH)

and their parent organization,

Abington Health, are

NON-PROFIT,

501(c)3 organizations with

a strong mission and history

of community service and

outreach. Recently, the

two hospitals completed

comprehensive Community

Health Needs Assessments to

gauge the overall health of the

communities they serve and

to help set the agenda for

programs and services in the

years to come.

Detailed reports of communitybenefit activity at both AbingtonMemorial Hospital and LansdaleHospital, as well as the CommunityHealth Needs Assessments and Action Plans, are available atwww.abingtonhealth.org/communitybenefit.

For complete information onAbington’s general financial assistance policy visit www.abingtonhealth.org/financialassistance.

In fiscal year 2012 Abington

Memorial Hospital provided

$33.4 million in financial assistance and

subsidized health services for

members of its community.

During that same period,

Lansdale Hospital provided

$3.3 million in

health services for the

uninsured and underinsured.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT: GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY

HEALTH EDUCATION AND SCREENINGSAMH and LH provide many free or low cost programs throughoutthe year designed to educate the community regarding health risk factors or to supportearly detection through health screenings. (See Ideas for Healthy Living section.)

During fiscal year 2012, AMH and

LH together provided more than

$1.3 million in free

education, screenings,

in-kind donations and other

community support.

As a teaching hospital, AbingtonMemorial Hospital educates many physicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. The hospital maintains residencyprograms in family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN, general surgery and dentistry. Thisyear the Dixon School of Nursingcelebrates 100 years of educatingnursing professionals.

In FY2012, AMH provided

approximately

$21 millionfor medical education

programs to train physicians

of the future.

PREPARING OUR FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

LEARN MORE

Full copies of the 2012 Needs Assessments are available at www.abingtonhealth.org. Overall, the health of the populations served in the AMH and LH service areas is good, ranking higher than the MontgomeryCounty and Pennsylvania State populations as a whole.

However, certain issues were raised in the Assessments and physicians and staff from both hospitals havebeen hard at work developing three-year action plans to address the areas of need. Action Plans have been developed for the following health concerns:

Abington Health is a nonprofit organization and welcomes the support of our community for all of our services and programs. If you would like information about how you can make a gift of cash, stock, or a bequest in your will, please contact the Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-4438.You can also visit the “Ways of Giving” section of our website at www.abingtonhealth.org or use the postage-paid envelope in this issue.

Abington Health Center –Blue Bell is Open!

Hundreds of area residents touredthe new center at 721 Arbor Wayduring two open house events in

August and September. The new campushouses physician offices as well as laboratory and radiology services.

At this newest location, patients will find the same level of care they’vecome to expect from Abington Health.Our team of medical experts includes:� Bariatric Surgeons� Cardiologists� Dermatologists� Endocrinologists� Nephrologists� Neurologists� Neurosurgeons� Neurovascular Neurologists� OB/GYNs� Oncologists/Hematologists� Podiatrists� Primary Care� Rheumatologists

Also on site are:� Comprehensive Laboratory Services� High-Field Open MRI� Full-Service Imaging

For more information, call 215-481-MEDI (6334) or visit us online at www.amh.org/bluebell.

AllAROUND A B I N G T O N H E A LT H

Celebrate!100 years of serving our community

Abington Memorial Hospital continues our countdown towardour 100th anniversary in May 2014.

Visit our website, www.amh.org/100 toshare a photo, a memory, or a story aboutyour Abington.

We’ve planned a year of celebration,including a fun activity for kids, monthlyfood fests in the Pavilion Grill in the LenfestPavilion, a timeline of achievements, all culminating in a special June Fete in June 2014. For more information, visit the website or call 215-481-2300. “Like” Abington Health on Facebook!

Bringing Nature to Main Street

W alking down Abington MemorialHospital’s main corridor, apasser-by momentarily pauses –

and stares out over a vista of golden aspensand grazing elk. In an instant, visitors andstaff are transported to the wild plains ofBotswana or the shimmering expanses ofGrand Teton National Park.

The photographs in the hospital corridor are the work of Feo Pitcairn, an acclaimed nature photographer and cinematographer based in MontgomeryCounty whose work has been exhibited atthe Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and published in AudubonMagazine. A lifelong supporter of various civic organizations, Mr. Pitcairn has generously donated this work to Abington Memorial Hospital.

Pitcairn was delighted and gratifiedduring a recent visit when he saw patients, staff and guests reacting to hisphotographs. “It’s a wonderful opportunityto try to change the environment in theseoften high-stress corridors,” he says. “I’ve always believed that nature has a connection to wellness, and I hope thesepictures help change the way people mightfeel in this setting.”

Abington Health adds North Penn Visiting Nurse Association (NPVNA) servicesto its community offerings

W hen Abington assumed ownership of the NPVNA lastspring, it embraced the

outreach programs and clinics which the organization has provided for many years on the Lansdale Hospital campus.Currently, three clinics provide adult care(through an arrangement with GwyneddMercy College), dental services and a children’s clinic. As part of the Needs Assessment Action Planning, a strategicplan is being developed to identify waysthat these services can be enhanced andexpanded to improve access to care foruninsured and underinsured residents in the North Penn region.

“In addition to the clinics, home careservices offered by NPVNA enhance thewide array of services provided by theHome Care Department at AbingtonHealth,” says Elissa Della Monica, executivedirector, Home Care and Hospice. “We areproud of our long tradition of high-qualitypatient care and service to our community.”

For more information about home care services, call 215-481-5800 or visit our website www.abingtonhealth.org/homecare

14

Abington Goes Greener

In 2008, Abington Memorial Hospitalbegan to pursue an aggressive plan tolower energy costs and reduce our

environmental footprint. One solution wasto build a new cogeneration facility to generate up to 70 percent of our electricitydemand. The plant, located in the middleof the hospital complex, opened in 2012.

It uses a natural gas-fired combustionturbine to generate electricity for less costthan it can be purchased from the grid. The process is more efficient than commercial power generation because werecover the steam and heat for on-siteprocesses. Plus, energy savings realizedthrough the new cogeneration system reduce the demand on our local powergrid. The facility can reach twice the energy efficiency of coal power plants while producing significantly fewer emissions. In addition to improvements in air quality, decreased emissions have indirectly improved water quality with fewer pollutants in the atmosphere.

The project budget totaled $9.7 million; but more than half of the funds came from outside funding, includinga $3 million Pennsylvania Green EnergyWorks! grant and a $2.75 million rebatethrough PECO’s Smart Energy program.And, we expect to save $2 million per year in energy costs.

Abington Health Recognizedas Most Wired

A bington Health has again been recognized as one of the nation’sMOST WIRED, according to the

results of the 2013 Most Wired Survey inthe July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

“Abington Health utilizes informationtechnology to enhance care coordinationand collaboration among clinicians and patients to improve quality, efficiency andtransform care delivery,” says Alison Ferren,vice president, Performance Excellence andInformation Technology/chief informationofficer, Abington Health. “The AbingtonHealth team is honored to receive this national recognition."

Wound Centers Expand inLansdale and Warminster

To better serve you, Abington Health Wound Healing Centers have moved to larger, state-of-the-

art facilities in Warminster and Lansdale.Our new locations include:

� Expanded exam rooms.� New hyperbaric oxygen chambers with

“smooth ride” technology offering a more comfortable treatment experience.

� Easy-to-access first floor locations.� Ample free parking.� Convenient hours – Monday through

Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

What has not changed is:� Our expert medical staff trained in

wound care and hyperbaric medicine.� Innovative care and

personalized attention.� Easy scheduling at 215-481-HEAL (4325).

Lansdale Hospital Opens Pain Center

Anew Comprehensive Pain Center at Lansdale Hospital focuses onproviding the most efficient care

for pain patients. This center follows a patient-centered model for the treatmentand management of pain-related diagnoses. Most procedures are done on an outpatient, same-day basis, and all procedures and patient visits are conducted in the Orthopaedic & Spine Institute.

Primary care physicians can refer patients to one source, which streamlinescare, and allows for a specific treatment regimen for each patient. Our multi-disciplinary expertise includes: � Physical therapy� MRI� EMG studies� Trigger point injections� Interventional pain procedures

in an operating room (with sedation by request)

� Acupuncture� Medication management options� Narcotic contracts and drug scans

to prevent substance abuse and drug-seeking behaviors.

For more information about the center, located at 100 Medical Campus Drive inLansdale, call 1-855-6-IN-PAIN (1-855-646-7246).

15

FALL 2013Published by the Public Relations

and Marketing Department at Abington Health. To contact us:

publicrelations@amh.org or 215-481-2300.

1200 Old York Road | Abington, PA 19001

T H E P O W E R T O H E A L

PHILADELPHIA

MONTGOMERYCOUNTY

ABINGTON HEALTH CENTER –SCHILLING

ABINGTON HEALTH CENTER –WARMINSTER

ABINGTON MEMORIALHOSPITAL

ABINGTON HEALTH CENTER –BLUE BELL

Blue Bell, PA

ABINGTON PHYSICIANSAT MONTGOMERYVILLE

ABINGTON HEALTH –LANSDALE HOSPITAL

ABINGTON HEALTH PHYSICIANS – a network of

over 200 employed primary care physicians

and specialists – are located throughout

the communities we serve. For a list,

visit myahphysicians.org.

To learn more about all 1,400 physicians on

staff at Abington Health, call our physician

referral service at 215-481-MEDI (6334) or

visit www.abingtonhealth.org/physicians.

HOSPITALSABINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

1200 Old York Rd., Abington, PA

ABINGTON HEALTH – LANSDALE HOSPITAL100 Medical Campus Dr., Lansdale, PA

HEALTH CENTERSABINGTON HEALTH CENTER – BLUE BELL

721 Arbor Way, Blue Bell, PA

ABINGTON HEALTH CENTER – SCHILLING2701 Blair Mill Rd., Willow Grove, PA

ABINGTON HEALTH CENTER – WARMINSTER225 Newtown Rd., Warminster, PA

ABINGTON PHYSICIANS AT MONTGOMERYVILLE

1010 Horsham Rd., North Wales, PA

RIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

WWW.ABINGTONHEALTH.ORG

Abington Health