Jul - Faith Regional Health Services

P.O. Box 869
Norfolk, NE 68702-0869
To the family of:
The Heat Is On!
by Joey Preister, FRHS Cardiac Rehab Exercise Specialist
Summer is in full swing, and with it, comes the heat!
However, avoiding the heat isn’t always possible, and can
at times have you sweating bullets (pun intended). Here
are some tips to help you stay safe when being active this
summer!
• Don’t exercise in temperatures over 90 degrees or
high humidity (over 75%). The body cools itself by
perspiring, but when humidity levels are also high, sweat
can’t evaporate as quickly and body temperatures can
rise to dangerous levels.
• Don’t keep exercising if you feel dizzy, faint and/or
nauseous. These reactions may be signs of heat
exhaustion, which occurs when bodily stress from heat
begins to overtake the body’s ability to control its own
temperature.
• Do exercise in the early morning or early evening if
possible. Try to avoid the hours between 10:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m.
• Do drink more water than usual. The average person
should drink at least 12 cups of water a day while
NonProfi t
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Norfolk, NE
Permit No. 222
working out in the heat;
an overweight individual
needs even more.
• Do wear loose clothing. Avoid
jerseys and tank tops because they
expose you to too much sun. Light-colored clothes best
refl ect the sun. Wear sunblock (SPF 15 or higher), a
cap or hat and sunglasses. Keep cool by wearing a wet
bandana or an ice pack scarf around your neck.
• Do allow your body to adapt. If exercising in the heat
is completely new to you, take it easy for the fi rst two
weeks.
• Do try to walk/run/bike along shaded pathways or trails.
Alternately, walk/jog in malls, where it is cool and shady.
• Do take special care if you are very underweight, very
overweight, pregnant or an older adult. Stay fully
hydrated at all times and take many rest breaks. Drink
water or sports drinks regularly. Do not wait until you
feel thirsty!

July 2005
Volume 8
Issue 7
A Publication for Faith Regional Health Services Employees
Gov. Heineman Visits FRHS
Photos from Recent Events
Page 3
New Ultrasound Machine for
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Page 4
Pulmonology Helps Patients
Breathe A Little Easier
We often take the simple act of
breathing for granted, but for a person
with pulmonary disease or chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease/ (COPD),
just taking a full breath gives many a
sigh of relief. Pulmonary disease is the
fourth leading cause of death in the
United States, affecting 32 million adults.
Faith Regional Health Services is helping
patients breathe a little easier with the
opening of Faith Regional Pulmonology
Services
Daniel
Iltchev, M.D., a
pulmonologist, will be
joining Faith Regional
Pulmonology
Services in July. Dr.
Iltchev specializes
in the treatment
and diagnosis of
pulmonary disease,
critical care and
sleep disorders. Pulmonary disease
Daniel Iltchev, M.D.
Pulmonologist
includes sleep apnea, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma,
and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
The focus of Dr. Iltchev’s practice will be
bronchoscopy, Swan-Ganz, chest tubes,
intubation and ventilator management,
pulmonary function testing, sleep studies,
and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Convenience Is Now An Option
Faith Regional will now be able to
offer pulmonary patients 24 hour care,
7 days a week. This convenience is a
welcome change for those who sought
pulmonary services outside of northeast
Nebraska. Having a pulmonologist based
in Norfolk allows for timely treatment of
asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis/
COPD; lung tumors and cancer; lung
infections and pneumonia; various
interstitial lung diseases; pulmonary
hypertension; pulmonary embolism and
vasculitis; acute and chronic respiratory
failure; sleep apnea; insomnia and many
others.
“Many patients who suffer from
decreased lung function can fi nd relief
with early diagnosis and treatment,” says
Dr. Iltchev.
One of the biggest risk factors for
pulmonary disease is smoking. About 80
to 90 percent of those diagnosed with
COPD have been long-term smokers.
There are other factors that contribute
to decreased lung function. Breathing in
chemical fumes and industrial dust over
a long period of time also contributes to
pulmonary disease. Other uncontrollable
factors that may contribute to
pulmonary problems may be a family
history of COPD, low birth weight, or
repeated lung infections.
With appropriate treatment,
those with asthma or other
forms of pulmonary disease
can lead active lives.
Dr. Iltchev is Board Certifi ed in
Internal Medicine and Pulmonary
Disease, is board eligible in Critical
Story continued on page 5.

2
VHA Leadership Award for
Clinical Excellence -- AMI
Faith Regional Health Services has
received the 2005 Leadership Award
for clinical excellence from VHA,
Inc., a national health care provider
alliance, for treatment of patients
suffering from acute myocardial
infarction (AMI), commonly known
as heart attack. Faith Regional is one
of only 92 VHA member hospitals
to receive the award. There are more
than 1,200 hospitals in the VHA
network.
Karen Tesina, director of
cardiovascular services, says the
award is an honor and an affi rmation
of the passion and dedication with
which the entire cardiac team has
approached improving care. “The
award is based on the hospital’s
performance measured against a set of
nationally accepted standards of care
for cardiac patients,” Tesina said.
“These measures are evidence-based
and are being used by the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) and the Joint Commission
on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) for public
reporting,” Tesina explains. By
including them as a part of the plan
of care for our cardiac patients, we
can monitor and measure the overall
rate of improvement in outcomes.”
According to Doug Welsh, M.D.,
a cardiologist at Faith Regional
CardioVascular Institute, the focus on
clinical improvement has been a team
effort. “What is most gratifying is that
by focusing on implementing these
standardized treatment protocols,
we have found a common rallying
point for the entire cardiac clinical
staff,” Dr. Welsh said. “The staff is
more engaged and the patients are
benefi ting from improved care.”
The AMI measures used as criteria
for the 2005 Leadership Award for
clinical excellence include:
• Aspirin prescribed at patient’s
arrival.
• Aspirin prescribed at time of
patient’s discharge.
• ACE inhibitor.
• Smoking cessation advice/
counseling provided to patient prior
to discharge.
• Beta blocker prescribed at time of
patient’s arrival.
• Beta blocker prescribed at time of
patient’s discharge.
• Amount of time until coronary
angioplasty (PTCA) initiated.
Faith Regional achieved at least a
90 percent compliance with all ratebased
indicators to qualify for the
award. The median time for delivery
of thrombolysis was equal to or less
than 30 minutes. And, the median
time until PTCA was initiated was
equal to or less than 120 minutes.
According to the National Registry
of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI)
data, Faith Regional’s average door-todilation
time is 81 minutes.
“This award represents a milestone
in our clinical improvement efforts
and we will use it to reaffi rm our
commitment to our patients and to
our community,” Tesina said.
Construction Updates:
The only certainty is uncertainty.
At recent Lunch and Learn sessions
held in June, Patrick Roche, VP
of Mission Services, presented an
overview of the Facility Master Plan
and upcoming construction projects.
The fi rst project slated is expansion of
employee parking to the north of the
existing parking on West campus.
“Bids to convert the entire fourth
fl oor on East campus into Behavioral
Health were received June 23 and will
be presented to the FRHS Board for
approval,” said Roche. “Construction
is expected to begin on the unit in
the fall, after a number of other East
Campus departments are relocated.”
“As of now, nothing is concrete
regarding several other issues
including the relocation of the
helicopter pad and physician
parking,” Roche added. “We hope
to have these plans fi nalized in the
upcoming weeks.”

Recognizing Excellence
Do you know someone in the
FRHS organization who exemplifi es
what quality healthcare is all about?
Do you work with someone who, no
matter what, really lives the mission,
vision and values of Faith Regional
Health Services? Do you really admire
someone who is the kind of coworker
you wish everyone could be? Now is
the time to let your coworkers know
they are appreciated and viewed
by others as someone who makes a
difference!
The Laura Gross Award is given
annually to FRHS employees who,
their coworkers feel, continue to
exemplify excellence in their daily
Thank you...
...Thank you so much for your kind
thoughts, prayers and the beautiful
plant. It will be so nice to have to
remember my Mom. Thank you
again! Mary Jo
...Thank you so much for
the beautiful plant for our
father’s services. It was truly
appreciated.
the Burney Family
...Thank you for the beautiful
plant that you sent. It meant a lot
to me and my family at the time of
losing Dad. It means a lot to know
that I work with people who are so
caring and concerned.
Mary Ann Lechtenberg
...Thank you for
the lovely fl owers,
your concern, calls
and prayers following
surgery. All meant so
much to me.
Ann Steckelberg
duties within the organization. The
award is named for Laura Gross, an
FRHS staff member who exemplifi ed
what the mission of Faith Regional
is all about during her many years
as a housekeeper. Award winners are
nominated and selected by their peers
. . . those who work with them on a
daily basis.
Winners will be announced at
the annual FRHS Employee Service
Award banquet on October 4,
during FRHS Anniversary Week. All
nominations, and names of persons
submitting nominations, are kept
strictly confi dential.
...There are no words that can
express my heartfelt thanks for all
the wonderful care you gave Milton.
My heart grieves today, but you have
made it easier. Thank you so much.
Corrine
...Thank you so much for the
beautiful roses I received when
I was sick in the hospital. They
helped brighten my day. Thanks
to all the nurses in the ER and
2nd fl oor for taking wonderful
care of me. Thank you to
Respiratory for giving me
my treatments. It’s great
to know that I work in
a facility with such caring
people. I appreciate it.
Deb Murren
...Dr. Voss and Faith
Regional Medical Staff,
I wish to achknowledge
your memorial you sent on
behalf of my family. We appreciate
your kind expressions of sympathy.
Timothy J. Biga
Nomination forms are available in the
cafeterias, Marketing, Human Resources
and Saint Joseph’s Rehabilitation and
Care Center as well as on the Intranet.
Award nominations must be received by
Patrick Roche, Vice President of Mission
Services, no later than July 31.
...Thank you
for your corporate
sponsorship of the 2005
Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. Your
contribution will benefi t research
and the race to fi nd a cure for this
disease. Shantell and the Memory
Walk Planning Committee
...Tom and I wish to thank
you for your donation to the
TeamMates of Nortolk Walk-A-
Thon. The youngsters and adults
who are participating in the
program are benefi tting from
donations such as yours
in many ways.
Nancy Osborne, Co-
Founder of TeamMates
...Thank you for
your support of our post
prom. Your contribution
helped to make the night a success
and we appreciate your generosity.
The 2005 Senior Class of Stanton
High School and their Parents
7

6
Excerpts from ‘04 Laura Gross Nominations . . .
Lynn Shellpeper
– Surgery
In our department,
this nominee is the “go
to” person everyday,
starting at 6:00
a.m. She goes above the scope of
practice to ensure the patient has an
uneventful visit to our department.
Her communication with all
departments is always professional
and courteous. She has great
integrity and every staff member and
physician relies on her to keep them
informed.
Denise Serres –
Social Work
She consistently acts as
a team worker in her
department. The ease
with which she talks with patients
and families inspires confi dence
– not only from patients but also
among staff. Her coworkers rely on
her ability to resolve challenging
and complicated diffi culties. She is
very dependable and often stays late
to accommodate a family to make
sure arrangements for a patient’s
discharge are set up.
Valorie Slizoski
– Social Services
OB patients who have
experienced loss have
known her kindness
and her passion for
families. She is constantly seeking
to improve services for families. She
also makes follow-up phone calls
to provide support. She doesn’t shy
away from challenges and has made
connections with other hospitals to
learn from their programs. She is
never satisfi ed with incomplete work
and strives for excellence in every
patient interaction.
Jolene Smith – Lab
This nominee makes
use of every minute at
work and puts in extra
time at home increasing
her knowledge level of
whatever area of our department
she is involved with. When given
a new project she jumps right in,
no hesitation, and is excited about
completing it and being able to make
improvements. She keeps the stress
level down by having fun on the
job and sharing humor with fellow
employees. She is to be commended!
Veronica Soto
– Women’s and
Children’s Services
She works very hard for
our department. She has
helped Faith Regional to
achieve high quality services through
her interpretation for non-English
speaking patients and families. She
helps this specifi c patient population
feel accepted and comfortable. She
Health Trek ‘05 Wrap-Up
Over 700 participants formed
160 teams (of 3, 4 or 5 members)
in this year’s Health Trek for
better health. “Health Trek is
about increasing your activity
level and cheering your teammates
on to maintain or exceed their
weekly activity levels,” said
Melissa Nemec, Health Resource
Center coordinator. Following
are some fun facts from this year’s
participants’ end results.
1. 63% of health trek participants
began an exercise program
during Health Trek and another
25% maintained their current
program.
guides staff in understanding specifi c
cultural needs and makes herself
available to help all departments
with their interpreting needs. She has
helped us deliver high quality care
to all our patients despite language
barriers.
Joanie Swerczek
– Skyview Medical
Management
This person always
takes the time to help or
explain no matter what
she’s doing. She goes out of her way
to help others and always looks out
for her coworkers. She is very helpful
to patients and explains questions
they may have about procedures and
cost. She has an incredible memory
that allows her to be an expert in her
fi eld. Several times she has stepped
out of her regular scope of duties to
train new employees or to fi ll in as
a receptionist when needed. These
situations have required her to work
extra hours.
2. Most Health Trek participants
(56%) walked or jogged their
way to better health. Other
popular activities were aerobics,
weight lifting and biking.
3. Health Trek participants
exercised:
• 2-3 times per week = 51%
• 4-5 times per week = 35%
• 6-7 times per week = 14%

Celebrating 10 years of
serving Norfolk and the
surrounding communities,
the staff of LifeNet served
cake and refreshments at a
recent open house on May
27. From left to right: Lisa
Michael, Faye Thomas, Brian
Thomas, Pete Labosky and
Don Zeman. Not pictured:
John Linke.
It Was A Busy Month For Events!
Sunny weather greeted golfers
at the 10th Annual Foundation
Pro-Am Golf Tournament on
June 17. Over 120 golfers and
30 pros attended. Jeff Porter
from Omaha won a hot tub
from FunWater Hot Tubs
after getting a hole-in-one
on Hole 17. Money raised
from this event
will go toward
the purchase of
TotalCare Beds
for ICU.
Faith Regional Sports
Medicine held their third
annual golf tournament
on June 4 at Eldorado
Hills Golf Club. Over
60 coaches, trainers,
administrators and
physicians from
around the area
attended.
Jackie and Brian Kopecky are the proud
parents of Evan, Easton and Elijah - the fi rst set of triplets born at
Faith Regional in the last eight years! The Kopecky triplets were born on June 13.
Governor Dave Heineman
visited Behavioral Health, Cardiac/Pulmonary
Rehabilitation and the Carson Cancer Center on June
17 while he was in Norfolk. Above, Dr. Mohammed
Zahra explains to Gov. Heineman and Senator
Mike Flood how the linear excellerator works.
The Foundation Brat Feed on June 8 at the Sunset
Plaza raised proceeds for the Norfolk Relay for Life and
the Carson Cancer Center.
3

4
New Ultrasound Machine Offers Broader
Scope of Services
Faith Regional recently acquired
a new permanent seed implant
brachytherapy ultrasound machine
used in treating prostate cancer. The
machine gives physicians the ability to
use real-time images generated during
the implant procedure to accurately
deliver precise doses of radiation.
In 2005, the American Cancer
Society predicts that nearly 230,000
men in the U.S. will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer. The popularity
of permanent seed implants as a
treatment option has risen rapidly.
The technique was virtually unused
ten years ago and is now the preferred
treatment for over 50,000 men
annually.
The permanent seed implant
brachytherapy ultrasound machine
is designed to facilitate real-time
planning and image-guided therapy.
That means that radiation
oncologists can generate
a treatment plan, use it
to implant the seeds and
see how the radiation
dose will develop within
the patient’s anatomy
while the patient is still
in the operating room.
This allows for instant
fi ne-tuning and precise adjustments.
In the past, these adjustments were
not possible. With this capability, a
physician can track where each seed
is placed in the prostate and show the
resulting real-time dose distribution.
The permanent seed implant
procedure is completed in a single
day, and according to research
published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association,
results are comparable to radical
Safety Teams Formed
The Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) and other
organizations require “Environment
of Care” committees to address
different safety disciplines such
as Security, Radiation Safety,
Employee Safety, Hazardous
Material and Waste, Fire and
Emergency Preparedness, Utility
and Equipment Safety, and Patient
Safety.
Safety Committee
The Safety Committee
(Environment of Care Committee)
helps guide, manage and direct
the safety and health programs
at Faith Regional Health Services.
Responsibilities include, but are not
limited to, reviewing safety policies,
conducting surveys/surveillances,
handling safety suggestions/
complaints, annual assessments, and
taking action on special action teams.
Current members are Dorothy
Kenney, Cheryl O’Gorman, Brenda
Mosel, Donald Cope, Kathy
Wemhoff, Jean Suehl, Doug Wismer,
LaDonna Stanosheck, Monica Emory,
Mary Meyer; Brenda Hokamp, Tim
Widhalm and Marsha Henn.
Emergency Preparedness Team
The Emergency Preparedness Team
is a sub-committee of the Safety
prostatectomy, with a lower risk of
side effects.
The machine is also able to
superimpose different kinds of
diagnostic images, such as Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) and
Single Photon Emission Computer
Tomography (SPECT), which
show the extent of disease, with CT
and ultrasound images that show
anatomy and positioning. This
enables physicians to adjust implants
according to an individual patient’s
disease characteristics.
Committee that assists in exercises
for Bioterrorism, other terrorism
responses, HAZMAT responses,
tornado, fi re, fl ood, and other disaster
possibilities. They work with Norfolk
Fire and Rescue and other outside
agencies to coordinate response to
disaster emergencies.
Current members include Ann
Steckelberg, Bill Adams, Brenda
Hokamp, Cheryl Ankeney, Debra
Bloomquist, Donald Cope, Jean
Suehl, Laura Hoogestraat, Len
Benson, Linda Vogel, Mark Sears,
Patrick Roche, Rachel Arens, Curtis
Lancaster, Linda Miller and Mary
Meyer.

“…to serve Christ by …”
by Rev. Dale Pracht, Director, Spiritual Care Services Department
This one snippet from the hospital’s
mission statement has served as a
devotional jump start for me many
times. I’ve been told that the mission
statement we now publish is the fi nal
result of many hours of work given to
defi ne the heart of what was originally
a very long and detailed statement. I
trust the process really did work and
what we have before us is the main
point of the earlier document, and the
essence of our reason for existing as a
regional health service.
We are about serving. We know
we need to take care of the assets and
bottom line of the business; otherwise
we won’t be here tomorrow to help
anyone. But that isn’t the most
important reason for being. Higher
up on the list is serving. The guiding
principle is “help someone because
they need help rather than to help
because it will earn us something.”
We are about serving Christ.
Summertime Fun At The Fair!
Look for a County Fair near you!
Platte County Fair
Madison County Fair and Rodeo
Pierce County Fair
Stanton County Fair
Boone County Fair
Wayne County Fair
Cedar County Fair
Dixon County Fair
Antelope County Fair
Cuming County Fair
Knox County Fair
Nebraska State Fair
Historically this institution is rooted
in Christianity, specifi cally in the
Catholic and Lutheran traditions that
founded the two parent hospitals.
“….As you do it to the least of these,
my brethren, you do it unto me,”
Jesus the Christ said. And that leads
to the fi nal word in the opening
phrase.
We are about serving Christ by...
How can we benefi t Christ when
He is not here to let us bandage His
wounds, to share a cup of water with
Him in the desert, to wrap a blanket
around Him as he rides a fi shing boat
across the Sea? We do it indirectly by
serving others as though they are the
Christ.
With John Fischer, devotional
writer for the Purpose Driven Life, I
pray, “God, awaken us with hearts to
serve, the wisdom to see the need, and
the power to follow through.”
July 13-17
July 13-17
July 20-24
July 20-24
July 23-27
July 28-31
July 28-31
July 31-August 3
August 11-15
August 11-14
August 11-14
August 27-September 5
Columbus, NE
Madison, NE
Pierce, NE
Stanton, NE
Albion, NE
Wayne, NE
Hartington, NE
Concord, NE
Neligh, NE
West Point, NE
Bloomfi eld, NE
Lincoln, NE
Pulmonology continued...
Care and Sleep Medicine and is
certifi ed in Advanced Cardiac
Life Support. He received his
medical degree from The Medical
University of Sofi a, Bulgaria and
completed his internal medicine
residency at Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland, Ohio,
where he received the honors of
Resident of the Year and Intern
of the Year. He completed his
Pulmonary/Critical Care and Sleep
Medicine Fellowship at Ohio State
University.
Dr. Iltchev will begin seeing
patients July 6, 2005. To schedule
an appointment, call 402-844-
8190. Patients can be referred
by their family physician or they
can make an appointment on
their own if they have breathing
problems or if they have chronic
cough, chest pain or wheezing.
The Faith Regional Pulmonology
Services clinic is located at Faith
Regional Medical Offi ces West,
110 N. 29th St., Suite 303.
(402) 564-0133
(402) 454-2144
(402) 329-6225
(402) 439-2119
(402) 395-6012
(402) 375-5531
(402) 692-3148
(402) 584-2232
(402) 887-5252
(402) 372-5877
(402) 373-4393
(402) 474-5371
5