START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT - Akron General Medical Center

fit life
for
Akron’s
Most
Preferred
Hospital
Heart Rhythm Problems:
Living to the Right Beat!
page 6
Important News about
Hysterectomy
page 7
Emergency Care,
Wherever
You Are
page 4
Local Woman
Defeats
Breast
Cancer
page 5
WELLNESS
Champions
Start The New Year Right
page 2
akrongeneral.org | WINTER 2009

From the
President
Happy 2009!
As we begin each new
year, many of us resolve
to make improvements
in our lives and lifestyles.
Sometimes these
resolutions stick and
sometimes, sadly, we
forget all about them in a couple of months.
As we begin this new year, I urge you to make a
resolution toward a more healthy lifestyle. Akron
General’s Wellness Champion Award winners,
including Michael Wiant (cover photo), have been
inspirational through the changes they have made
in their own lives and those of others. We can all
follow their examples.
Michael Wiant
Wins Gold
in Akron General’s
Wellness Champion Awards
Michael Wiant of Copley has a passion for wellness. The 37-year-old husband
and father of two young children – with a third on the way – works in sales and
marketing for a downtown Akron developer. Even with his busy schedule, he
maintains his own fitness and inspires others with his passion.
Wellness Champion Michael Wiant receives his award.
Let me personally thank you for again choosing
Akron General as our area’s Most Preferred
hospital. This choice, coming through an
independent survey by the National Research
Corporation, is one of the highest honors that we
can receive. It is our mission to improve the health
and lives of our patients and community. We are
privileged to be able to serve you.
Best wishes for a healthy 2009,
Alan Bleyer
President & CEO
Akron General Health System
Do you or someone you know want to
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Call 866-934-3492.
Fit for Life is published by Akron General Health System to provide general
health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice,
which should be obtained directly from a physician. Your comments
are welcome. Images may be from one or more of these sources:
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©2009 Priority Publications priorityresults.com
You may request to be removed from our mailing lists by calling a voice
mailbox at 866-934-3499 and leaving your name and address, or by sending
your name and address to Akron General Health System, Media and Public
Relations Department, 400 Wabash Ave., Akron, OH 44307.
His friend, Steve Catalano, credits Michael for making a big impact on his
life. Steve has seen significant results from the encouragement and dedication
he has received from Michael.
Michael motivates without expecting anything in return. His passion for
helping others comes from deep within his heart. For his personal example of
wellness and his efforts in leading others to wellness, Akron General recognizes
Michael Wiant as the winner in the Gold Category for the Akron General
Wellness Champion Award.
Other individual winners were Matthew Adams and Kevin O’Shea.
City of Dublin Earns Top Corporate Honors
The City of Dublin is an employer that walks the wellness talk. Located
16 miles northwest of downtown Columbus, the local government consists
of 380 full-time employees and a seasonal workforce that fluctuates between

250 and 450. Given the organization’s
dynamic, fast-paced, achievement-oriented
culture distinguished by its leadership
style, high expectation levels, collaborative
relationships and customer-oriented
philosophy and core values, is it any
wonder that the city of Dublin also
has a first-class wellness program
Employees who participate in the
complete array of wellness opportunities
enjoy substantial reductions in their
healthcare expenses. The program’s
success is evident by the enthusiasm of
participating employees and their families.
What’s more, Dublin has received an
extra reward for its positive efforts –
the employer has seen a decrease in its
corporate healthcare expenses.
For its success as a leader in health and
wellness, Akron General salutes the city of
Dublin as the Gold winner of the Wellness
Champion Award.
Other corporate winners include
Infocision and SS&G Financial Services.
Akron General
Voted Most
Preferred Hospital
Once again, Akron General has won the area’s
Consumer Choice Award from the National Research
Corporation. Akron General is the ONLY Akron-area
winner of this prestigious designation. This award
goes to organizations identified by consumers as
having the best overall quality, image, reputation,
nurses and doctors.
Thank you
once again for
voting Akron
General your
Most Preferred
hospital!
Expanded
Radiology Hours
If you need an X-ray, CT
Scan, MRI, ultrasound or
any general diagnostic test,
the Akron General Health
& Wellness Centers – both
North (Stow) and West
(west Akron) – now have
convenient, expanded hours.
Health & Wellness Center
– North
4300 Allen Road, Stow
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. - noon
Health & Wellness Center – West
4125 Medina Road, west Akron
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Make an Appointment
Call: 866-934-3715
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Wherever You Are
Emergency Care in
Your Neighborhood
Akron General is the area’s leader in accessible, convenient
emergency care.
The downtown facility is northeast Ohio’s only emergency
department with certifications in Level I Trauma, chest pain and
stroke. The emergency department at Akron General’s Health
& Wellness Center – North in Stow treats patients in an average
of two hours. And the emergency department at Akron General
Lodi Community Hospital in Medina County provides equally
fast, quality care. It also serves as a helicopter base for MedFlight.
All three Emergency Departments and the new facility to open
at the Health & Wellness Center – West in Bath in 2009 make
Akron General the area’s leader in emergency care, close to home.
Patients Continually Give High Satisfaction Scores
The emergency department at the Health & Wellness
Center – North rates in the top percentile in the Press Ganey
Patient Satisfaction Survey, the nation’s leading independent
patient satisfaction measurement.
Lodi Community Hospital’s emergency department has twice
been awarded the prestigious Summit Award by Press Ganey
Associates. The Award is given to hospitals across the country that
have maintained a patient satisfaction rank in the top percentile
for a minimum of three consecutive years. Lodi Community
Hospital is one of only 12 hospital emergency departments
nationwide to receive this award and one of only eight emergency
departments to have received it two years in a row.
Eggs, Milk, Bread, Checkup
ExpressCare Clinics Now At Acme Fresh Markets
Acme Fresh Market and Akron General have partnered to provide walk-in medical
clinics inside select Acme Fresh Market stores. ExpressCare Clinics are a new, exciting
concept in healthcare. They offer speedy service with exceptional quality, complete
affordability and unmatched convenience. Akron General nurse practitioners staff
the clinics under the direction of Akron General family medicine physicians.
ExpressCare Clinics are intended for minor illnesses, including (but not limited to):
• Strep throat
• Ear infections
• Cold and flu
• Pink eye
• Poison ivy
• Acne
• Allergies
• Wart removal
• Swimmer’s ear
• Minor injuries
• Vaccinations
• Sinusitis
• Cholesterol screenings
• Diabetes screenings
• Bronchitis
• Sports physicals
4 | Akron General Health System | akrongeneral.org

Beating
Akron General Team Helps Patient Thrive
Breast
Cancer
Talk to breast cancer survivor Linda Stewart and you may be
surprised to hear her say how much she has been blessed, rather
than focus on her battle against breast cancer that included
many months of chemotherapy, radiation and a lumpectomy.
No, Linda instead will tell you, “God has blessed me with two
families – my own and my co-workers at Akron General.”
Breast cancer survivor Linda Stewart, left, beat the disease in large part
due to the care and friendship of Kathy Lukity, RN, at Akron General
Reflections Breast Health Center.
Linda attributes much of her successful journey and ultimate
recovery from breast cancer to Akron General Reflections Breast
Health Center, where co-worker Kathy Lukity, RN, and many
others “carried me and helped me fight with positive thoughts –
they kept me going.” Starting with her first visit to the Center,
Linda and her family were always clear about her course of
treatment. The treatment team explained why or when things were
happening, and fostered her questions. “Kathy would even come
over to hold my hand during chemotherapy,” says Linda. “She gave
me something to look forward to during a very devastating time.
“My care team was always positive – no one ever had a
bad attitude,” shares Linda. “They did whatever they needed
to do to make it right for me and my family and explained
everything every step of the way.”
The Expert Care You Need and Deserve
Akron General and Reflections are now Akron General
Reflections Breast Health Center. With five locations and
evening hours, it’s easier than ever to get your mammogram.
And should you ever have an abnormal mammogram, rest
assured we’ll understand your worry and concern. To help
you through the process, we provide:
• A dedicated breast health nurse available to guide your care
and help you with questions.
• A follow-up appointment at our all-digital location, the only
one in the area equipped with this advanced technology.
• Accurate results six times faster than other centers in the
country, which means less time waiting for follow-up results.
Akron General Reflections Breast Health Centers are
in Akron, Fairlawn, Green, Hudson and Tallmadge.
Sports Injury Help Online
www.akrongeneral.org/sportsmedicine
Stiff and sore Muscle and joint aches and pains Akron General Sports Medicine
offers a new and interactive website to help you learn more about what could be
causing those aches and pains, how to care for them and when it might be time to
go to the doctor. Go to www.akrongeneral.org/sportsmedicine to read more about
conditions such as sprains and strains, tendonitis, heel pain and much more!
Shoulders
Broken Collarbone
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder Separation
Rotator Cuff Injury
Akron General Sports Medicine is the area’s largest sports medicine program,
with board-certified doctors, trainers and therapists at five locations.
Learn more
Visit: www.akrongeneral.org/sportsmedicine
fit life
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winter 2009 | 5

Heart Rhythm Problems
Living to the Right Beat
Robert Schweikert,
MD
When your
heart skips a beat,
it’s usually because
you’re nervous or
excited or maybe
even in love! But if
a fluttering heart
keeps you awake at
night, there may be
cause for concern.
“Each time your
heart beats, it’s the
result of your heart muscles squeezing
to pump blood to other parts of your
body,” says Robert Schweikert, MD,
Chief of Cardiology at Akron General.
“Under normal circumstances, this
happens between 60 and 100 times a
minute. An occasional heart palpitation
is usually harmless. But when your heart
beats too quickly, too slowly or erratically,
this abnormal heart rhythm is known as
arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythms.”
Arrhythmias are very common,
especially as you get older. Most cases
are harmless, but some arrhythmias
are extremely dangerous and require
treatment and management.
Electrophysiologists specialize in the
electrical activity of the heart and in the
diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm
disorders. Akron General’s worldrenowned
electrophysiologists provide
innovative and comprehensive treatment
options for heart rhythm disorders – so
patients with arrhythmia can continue
enjoying life to the fullest.
If you think you’re experiencing
heart rhythm abnormalities, make an
appointment with your doctor. As always,
if you are having severe symptoms, don’t
wait. Call 911.
Learn More
Call: 866-934-4156
Welcome Jennifer Cummings, MD, FACC
Jennifer Cummings,
MD, FACC
Akron General Partners Physician Group and Heart Rhythm
Associates are pleased to welcome a new cardiologist,
Jennifer Cummings, MD, FACC. Dr. Cummings is boardcertified
in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and
clinical cardiac electrophysiology. She most recently served as
Director of Electrophysiology Research and Staff Cardiologist
in the Cleveland Clinic Department of Cardiovascular
Medicine, Electrophysiology and Pacing. Specialty interests
include management of arrhythmias, catheter ablation
including AF, pacemakers, defibrillators and device therapy
for heart failure. Her fellowships include cardiovascular
medicine at MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve
University and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at the Cleveland Clinic. She
joins Dr. Schweikert at Akron General Heart Rhythm Associates.
Need a Ride to a Cardiac or Diagnostic Test
Akron General is pleased to offer a transportation program for patients scheduled
for diagnostic or cardiac testing appointments at our centers. The transportation is
available for patients who are pre-scheduled for a test at Akron General’s Health
& Wellness Center – West, Health & Wellness Center – North, Green Health
Center or Tallmadge Health Center. The cost is only $10 roundtrip. Transportation
is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., and it must be scheduled
48 hours in advance.
Schedule TransportaTion
Call: 866-934-4158
6 | Akron General Health System | akrongeneral.org

Jeffrey Zwart, MD
Director, Robotic
Surgery, Gynecology
Ask the Expert
Why Choose Robotic
Surgery for
Hysterectomy
QQ: A
My doctor told me I need a hysterectomy,
and the last thing I want is an incision across my
stomach with a large scar and weeks of recovery.
How does robotic surgery eliminate that
A: Because of the precise movements and
small tools of the robot, the incisions made for a
hysterectomy are barely the length of the tip of a
finger. The tiny incisions result in much less scarring,
reduced blood loss and trauma to the body, less postoperative
pain and a shorter recovery time.
Q: Who is appropriate for robotic laparoscopic
hysterectomy
A: Anyone who is recommended for a
Qhysterectomy A
is a potential candidate, even if the
case is considered complex. Uterine or cervical
cancer with lymph node removal is especially
suited for robotic hysterectomy.
Q: It’s hard to imagine a robot doing surgery.
How exactly does it work
QA: The surgeon is seated at a console that contains
Q
the
A
master control and display. The surgeon’s hand,
wrist and finger movements are seamlessly transferred to
A
the robot’s surgical instruments inside the patient. The
movements of the robot and the surgeon occur at the
Open Hysterectomy Incision da Vinci ®
Hysterectomy Incisions
exact same time. Small laparoscopes (small cameras) attached to the “arms”
of the robot allow for the surgeon to operate using a 3-D image. Akron
General’s robot features four arms to represent the surgeons left and right
hands, to change the surgeon’s visual field and to perform additional tasks.
Surgeons who perform robotic surgery have undergone intensive training.
Q: What if my doctor doesn’t know much about robotic surgery –
how can I find out more and if I am a candidate
A: Visit www.akrongeneral.org/davinci for more information on robotic
surgery at Akron General.
Over 50 Step Up Screenings
Getting regular health screenings
is always wise, and the following
screenings are especially important
as you reach your golden years.
Annual Mammogram. The American
Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that
women ages 40 and older get a yearly
mammogram screening for breast
cancer. Women at high risk for breast
cancer should ask their doctors about
adding magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) to their mammogram routine.
Bone Mineral Density Test. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services recommends that women get
a bone density test beginning at age
65 to screen for osteoporosis – or by
age 60 if you have a thin build.
Talk to your doctor or nurse at Akron
General about which health screenings
are right for you.
fit life winter 2009 | 7
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A special thank you to
the following Corporate
Partners for their generous
support of Akron General
throughout the year.
Akron Beacon Journal
Gojo
Heidelberg Distributing
Company
ING
Krumroy Cozad Construction
Corporation
Main Street Gourmet
Messina Floor Covering
National City Bank
QT Equipment
Roetzel & Andress
The Ruhlin Company
Sodexo
Time Warner Cable
Wadsworth Golf Charities
Foundation
Williams on the Lake
WQMX FM 94.9
400 Wabash Avenue • Akron, OH 44307
866-934-3492
akrongeneral.org