Informed - Parma Community General Hospital

Board of Trustees welcomes five new members, new chairman
Parma Hospital’s Board of Trustees
continues its proud tradition
of independence and community focus
by electing a new chairman with
a 40-year history of involvement
with community development.
Kent A. Geist, a board member
from Parma Heights since 2006, is
the senior director of community
development for ideastream, par-
Patricia Ruflin and Kent Geist
ent company of WVIZ/PBS and 90.3
WCPN. Geist says he is honored by
the opportunity to give back to his
community, making it a great place
to live, work and receive high-quality,
compassionate health care.
“Mr. Geist has devoted his
40-year career to strengthening public
broadcasting,” said President &
CEO Patricia A. Ruflin. “He is the right
person to help Parma Hospital chart
a successful course during these
challenging times in health care.”
The Board also welcomed new
trustees, recommended for appointment
by their respective mayors:
• Jack P. Marschall, Parma. A
broadcast journalist with more than
30 years of experience, Marschall
is the director of communications
and community relations for the City
of Parma and has won numerous
awards for community service and
journalism.
• Scott D. Curtis, Seven Hills. An
attorney and 31-year resident of the
city, Curtis served four consecutive
terms on Seven Hills City Council,
including as president.
• Jacqueline M. Patton, Brooklyn.
Patton is the president of the
Brooklyn Laurel Garden Club and an
assistant manager at Friendly’s Restaurant
in Parma Heights, where she
has worked for 27 years.
• Salvatore P. Sidoti, DPM,
Parma Hospital Medical Staff. A po-
Parma Hospital
Health Care Foundation
2008 Golf Classic
Platinum Sponsor
· Pleasant Lake Villa – a
Legacy Healthcare Facility
Gold sponsors
· Fifth Third Bank
· National City Bank/
NatCity Investments, Inc.
· Parma Hospital Medical
Staff
Legacy sponsors enjoyed a social and sunny day of golfing. Pictured here, from left, are Barry Stump, Legacy
Chief Financial Officer; Larry Hartman, President of HDH Mechanical; Jim Taylor, Administrator of Pleasant Lake
Villa; Jim Wilson, Legacy Chief Operating Officer; Patricia Ruflin, Parma Hospital President & CEO; James Rambasek,
MD, Foundation Board Chairman; and Marcia Ferguson, Foundation Executive Director.
diatrist and member of the medical
staff for 18 years, Sidoti has had a
private medical practice in Parma
since 1991.
• Thomas P. O’Donnell, North
Royalton. The city’s former law director,
O’Donnell is a trial attorney Scott D. Curtis
who has tried more than 40 criminal
and civil jury trials. He also has
handled appeals in most northern
Ohio appellate districts, the Ohio
Supreme Court and the Federal 6 th
District Court of Appeals.
Officers elected by the board Jack P. Marschall
were: David Nedrich (North Royalton),
first vice chairman; JoAnn Mason
(Parma), second vice chairman;
Robert Bartholomew Jr. (Brooklyn
Hts.), secretary; James Rambasek,
MD (Medical Staff), treasurer; John
H. Bundy (Brooklyn), assistant Thomas P. O’Donnell
secretary; Jack C. Krise Jr. (Parma),
first assistant treasurer; and Joseph
Tal (Parma Heights), second assistant
treasurer. Joseph W. Coleman,
former chairman, was appointed
member-at-large from Seven Hills.
The Board consists of members
Jacqueline M. Patton
from each of Parma Hospital’s six
founding communities: Parma,
Parma Heights, Seven Hills, North
Royalton, Brooklyn and Brooklyn
Heights.
Sharon Straker-Martin (Parma)
was reappointed to another threeyear
term by Parma Mayor Dean
Salvatore P. Sidoti, DPM
DePiero. Other members of the board are: Gayle J.
Rullo (Parma); Charles F. Harle (Brooklyn
Hts.); and Louis D. Ripepi Jr. (Parma).
Informed
Informed is published quarterly by the Marketing Department
of Parma Community General Hospital to provide timely,
educational information on health-related topics.
Patricia A. Ruflin, President & CEO
Paul Schneider, Vice President, Planning and Development
Mark White, Director of Marketing
Marty Pytel, Manager, Creative Services
C.J. Sheppard, Communications Specialist
Physicians who render professional services to you in Parma
Community General Hospital are independent practitioners
and are not employees or agents of the hospital. Parma
Community General Hospital is not responsible for the
acts or omissions of the physicians that are not directed or
controlled by Parma Community General Hospital.
It is the policy of Parma Hospital to employ and treat
persons without regard to race, creed, sex, national origin,
age or handicap.
Parma Community General Hospital
7007 Powers Boulevard · Parma, OH 44129-5495
440-743-3000 · www.parmahospital.org
ACUTE REHABILITATION CENTER
Stroke patients thrive in stimulating environment
Rehabilitation is hard work, but
there’s no reason it can’t be fun, too.
The upbeat atmosphere at the Acute
Rehabilitation Center at Parma Hospital
could be part of the reason its patients
exceed national averages in improvement
during their stay.
The inpatient unit for individuals
recovering from strokes, joint replacements
and neurological disorders recently
received another three-year accreditation
from CARF, the commission
that accredits rehabilitation facilities. A
special designation also was awarded to
the unit for its work in minimizing impairment
and maximizing quality of life
for stroke patients.
It is stroke patients and others trying
to regain mobility and enhance cognition
who are benefiting from the latest
video game technology. Therapists are
utilizing Nintendo’s Wii video game
system in therapy sessions to enhance
balance, range of motion, cognition and
endurance. Patients can bowl, play tennis
or engage in a range of other sports
with a remote control and a television
screen.
“Wii uses recreation and leisure as
a form of therapy,” says recreational
therapist Dina Piatak. “It provides a diversion
from pain and increases their
motivation.”
The unit is
clearly succeeding
at motivating
and treating
their patients.
Inpatient rehabilitation
units
are rated in 18
different areas
called Functional
Independent
Measures. Patients
are scored
in these areas
upon admission
and discharge.
Parma Hospital’s
scores exceed
both regional
and national
averages in improving
the mobility,
self-care,
communication
and cognitive
and social abilities
of its patients.
“We pride ourselves on an interdisciplinary
team approach, where physicians,
nurses, social workers and therapists
work together for the functional
improvement of each patient,” says Cynthia
Taylor, DO, medical director of the
Fast, friendly care at express clinic
uick, accessible health care from
Qa certified nurse practitioner has
come to a drug store in Olmsted Falls.
Community Express Care, a new
venture of Parma Hospital, opened this
summer inside Discount Drug Mart at Columbia
and Bagley roads. Staffed by certified
nurse practitioners and overseen by
Matthew Frantz, DO, the clinic can treat
ailments from bronchitis and ear infections
to strep throat and insect bites. Immunizations
are available for flu, pneumonia,
tetanus, hepatitis B and measles/
mumps/rubella. Parents also can take
their children for physical exams required
for school, sports and camp.
The walk-in clinic can take patients
as young as 2 years old. Most visits will
take about 15 minutes and the nurse
practitioner can write prescriptions
when appropriate.
“We are able to provide quality
health care in a quick, accessible manner,”
says Certified Nurse Practitioner
Melissa Nemeth, who specializes in
family practice and is well versed on a
range of maladies for all ages. “Also we
can connect our patients with a primary
care provider for future health care.”
Introductory hours are Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.-
7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For
more information, call 440-235-1245.
Recreational Therapist Dina Piatak, left, and Physical Therapy Assistant Michelle
Marcellino guide patient Brian Miller in bowling with the Wii video system.
Acute Rehabilitation Unit.
“As the certification shows, we succeed
in providing excellent, personalized
care.”
For information or to make a referral
to Parma Hospital’s Acute Rehabilitation
Unit, call 440-743-4311.
Juried arts show set for November
Continuing its proud tradition of enriching the communities
it serves, Parma Hospital will sponsor
its Second Annual Arts at the Center this autumn.
Proceeds from the juried art show will benefit the
hospital’s Home Run Van service, which provides
courtesy transportation to and from the hospital for
community residents.
Save the date for this special event, held Saturday,
November 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Heights.
To participate, please call Andrea Sack at
440-743-2371. Applications are available at
www.parmahospital.org.
2 Informed www.parmahospital.org
Fall 2008 Informed 3