Fall 2011 - Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital

good help
SUMMER/FALL 2011
Hip Stories
Father Noe
and Others
Beat the Pain
Detect Lung Cancer Early with
OLBH’s New Technology

If you thought you heard a cheer
coming from OLBH’s beautiful hilltop
campus a few weeks back, you most likely did.
Allow me to explain.
As of July 31, OLBH transitioned to our new electronic
medical records system, known as ConnectCare. The
date marks a milestone in the hospital’s history. It is the
result of years of intense planning and the hard work
and dedication of countless individuals. I thank all who
have made this significant achievement possible. This
system has been designed by physicians and clinical
staff who have devoted countless hours to be certain it
met both patient and clinician needs.
So why should you care about our new system? In the
last issue of Good Help, our cover story explained just
what ConnectCare will do for our patients. However, for
the short version, ConnectCare means “one patient, one
record.” Each patient now will have a single medical
record that can easily follow him/her throughout our
health system. ConnectCare means more efficient and
timely care as well as safeguards that enhance patient
safety.
The transition to ConnectCare was important for
OLBH and Bon Secours in preparing for the future of
healthcare. Millions of dollars have been invested, not
just because recent healthcare reform legislation has
encouraged it, but because it’s the right thing to do for
our patients. We now can achieve even higher standards
of quality in our services and a new level of patient
satisfaction. Both are exciting propositions.
Finally, thank you to everyone who provided us
feedback on our last issue of Good Help. The redesign
seems to be a hit, with the magazine’s larger size and
new features proving popular. We also hope you enjoy
this issue. It contains not only interesting features, but
articles with valuable advice on how to prepare for
surgery and a list of available OLBH support groups.
Thank you for reading.
Sincerely,
Kevin Halter, CEO
Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital
ConectCare
is Here &
Benefiting
You
Contents | Fall 2011
GOOD HELP | ISSUE NO. 20
On A Mission | 3
OLBH Offers a Variety of Free Support Groups for Both
Emotional and Physical Support
Around OLBH | 4
• OLBH Receives Fourth Straight Patient Experience
Award
• Additions to Women’s Care and Tri-State Pediatrics
• Hospital Awarded for Environmental Efforts
• Russell School Records Podcasts for Pediatrics
• Presenting the Nurse of the Year
• Bellefonte Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery Relocates
• OLBH Donates Property to Shawnee State
• Did You Know?
Good Help For Good Health | 6
• Preparing for a Positive Surgical Experience
• Physician Q&A with Dr. James Martin
• Firm Up! Take the Back-to-School Challenge
• Healthy Recipe: Homemade Salsa
Hip, Hip, Hip Hurray | 8
Three Tales of Hip Pain and How the Human Motion
OrthoCare Program Changed Lives for the Better
A Matter of Life & Breath | 10
New Technolgoy at OLBH Allows for Earliest Possible
Detection of Lung Cancer
Contact Us
Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital:
St. Christopher Drive | Ashland, KY 41101
OLBH CareLine: (606) 833-CARE (2273), careline@bshsi.org
Online: www.olbh.com
: www.facebook.com/ourladyofbellefonte
: www.twitter.com/OLBHBonSecours
: www.youtube.com/OurLadyofBellefonte
2 good help | Summer/Fall 2011

| On a
Mission
Support Groups
Offer Strength and
Encouragement
OLBH’s commitment to the community extends beyond the hospital’s walls and to more than
just the patients in the facility’s hospital rooms. OLBH offers support to residents of the
Tri-State through its variety of support groups, including:
» Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), an international fellowship of men
and women who have had a drinking problem, offers a forum
for members to share experiences. AA gives person-to-person
service or "sponsorship" to the alcoholic.
» Al-Anon
Al-Anon helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the
effects of living with problem drinking.
» A.W.A.K.E
A.W.A.K.E (awake, well and keeping energetic) is a group that
provides support for individuals with sleep apnea. Events take
place quarterly.
» Better Breathers
The Better Breathers support group meets
quarterly to provide an opportunity to meet and
share experiences, ask questions and to learn how
to develop a better quality of life. The group
operates to provide support and encouragement
through sharing and interaction and to help
overcome some of the day-to-day activities of
living with chronic lung disease.
» Breast Cancer Support Group
OLBH’s breast cancer support group meets
monthly. Each meeting features a new topic for
those whose lives have been affected by a
diagnosis of breast cancer.
» Camp Quest
The OLBH Diabetes & Wound Care Center’s Camp
Quest is a support group for children with either
diabetes or asthma. The support group meets
periodically throughout the year for educational
offerings, activities and support for children and
their families living with diabetes and asthma.
» Cardiac Express
Cardiac Express provides support for members of the Human
Motion Vitality Center's Cardiac Rehabilitation program. The
group provides social opportunities for patients and families
who have been affected by heart disease. Cardiac Express
meets monthly in addition to three special annual outings.
» Look Good…Feel Better
Look Good…Feel Better helps women cope with the appearancerelated
side effects of cancer treatment by teaching them
beauty tips to enhance their looks and boost their self-images.
Experts help patients deal with the physical side effects of
cancer treatment and promote good hygiene. Look Good…Feel
Better is offered monthly in conjunction with the American
Cancer Society, the Personal Care Products Council Foundation
and the National Cosmetology Association.
For meeting dates for
any of the above, visit
www.olbh.com to view a
calendar of events.
Registration for many
of the classes can be
completed online.
To register or for more
information via phone,
call the OLBH CareLine
at 606-833-CARE (2273).
» Man to Man
One of OLBH’s newest support groups, Man to
Man is a free group offered in association with
the American Cancer Society for those whose
lives have been affected by a diagnosis of
prostate cancer.
» Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a nonprofit fellowship
of men and women for whom drugs have
become a major problem.
» Smoking Cessation
OLBH offers a free, 12-week smoking
cessation support group using the Cooper -
Clayton method and nicotine replacement to
assist individuals in kicking the habit of using
tobacco products. The hospital's smoking
cessation support group encourages Tri-State
residents to overcome nicotine dependency,
keying into both emotional and physical
needs.
Summer/Fall | good help 3

| Around
OLBH
OLBH Receives 4th Patient Experience Award
OLBH is among the top five percent in the nation for patient experience based on an
analysis of patient surveys from 3,797 hospitals nationwide by HealthGrades, the leading
independent healthcare ratings organization. Hospitals in the top 10 percent or better were
named recipients of the 2011 HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award. OLBH
has received the award for four consecutive years.
“To receive this award for all four years of its existence means so much as it’s a direct result
of patients reporting a positive experience at OLBH,” Kevin Halter, OLBH CEO, said. “All the
credit for this award goes to OLBH’s hard-working staff and physicians and the culture of
excellence they’ve established.”
HealthGrades analyzed HCAHPS hospital survey data obtained from the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services from April 2009 to March 2010. HealthGrades identified those
hospitals performing in the top 10 percent in the nation for patient satisfaction based on
survey responses from patients treated at those facilities. Free information on award recipients
and the ratings methodology is available at www.healthgrades.com.
Additions at
Sarah Lucas
MSN, APRN,
WHNP-BC
Leigh Ann
Weinfurtner
PA-C
Women’s Care | Tri-State Peds
Sarah Lucas, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, has joined the staff
of Bellefonte Women’s Care (2001 Winchester Avenue).
Lucas is a women’s health nurse practitioner who
earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University
of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as earning
her bachelor’s degree in nursing from West Virginia
University’s Charleston campus. Lucas brings to Bellefonte
Women’s Care practice an expertise in all area’s of
women’s health.
Bellefonte Women’s Care is dedicated to the hospital’s
focus on better health for women of the Tri-State.
The practice’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m. The office can be contacted at (606) 324-7351.
Leigh Ann Weinfurtner, PA-C, has joined the staff of
Tri-State Pediatrics (900 Saint Christopher Drive).
Weinfurtner is a physician’s assistant who earned her
master’s degree in physician assistant studies from
the University of Kentucky’s Morehead, Ky., campus.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Morehead State
University. Weinfurtner is certified by the National
Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Tri-State Pediatrics’ hours are Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office can be contacted at
(606) 836-0919.
Learn more about OLBH…
Join the conversation at
www.facebook.com/ourladyofbellefonte
OLBH Awarded for
Environmentally
Responsible Efforts
OLBH has been honored
with the 2011 Partner
for Change Award from
Practice Greenhealth, a
national membership organization
for healthcare
facilities committed to
environmentally responsible
operations. The award is one of the
organization’s seven Environmental
Excellence Awards given each year
to honor outstanding environmental
achievements in the healthcare sector.
The Partner for Change Award
recognizes healthcare facilities that
continuously improve and expand
upon their mercury elimination, waste
reduction, and pollution prevention
programs. At a minimum, facilities
applying for this award must be
recycling 10 percent of their total waste,
have a mercury elimination program in
place with a plan for total elimination,
and have developed other successful
pollution prevention programs.
“We are so pleased to have our
accomplishments recognized at a national
level,” Diana Williams, chairperson
of the OLBH Green Team, said. “We have
been working both here at OLBH and
throughout the Bon Secours Health
System on reducing our environmental
impact. We’re committed in these
efforts.”
4 good help | Summer/Fall

Russell Primary Students Record Podcasts for Pediatrics
Students from Russell Primary School’s Tech
Tales team recently visited the OLBH Pediatrics
Department with a special gift: new iPod Nanos
with audio podcasts of children’s books that
the students had recorded themselves. When
asked at the beginning of the school year
what project to undertake, the Tech Tales
team members decided to prepare audio
podcasts of books that young patients could
enjoy. The podcasts included public domain titles
such as “Little Bo Peep” and “Humpty Dumpty” as well
as stories used by permission from Scholastic Publishing.
The Tech Tales team poses wth Vickie Koontz, nurse
manager of OLBH’s Pediatrics Department.
Hospital Announces
Ella Rice, RN, a nurse in the hospital’s operating room, is
the recipient of the eighth annual Sister Ruth Ellen James
Nursing Excellence Award.
Nominated by her peers, Rice was selected due to her
demonstration of clinical excellence in the workplace.
Nominations also reflected a regard and admiration for
Rice’s abilities, commitment, and professionalism. Rice has
been a nurse at OLBH for 23 years. She earned her nursing
degree from Ashland Community and Technical College.
Ella Rice, RN The award is named after Sister Ruth Ellen James, a longtime
nurse at OLBH known for her caring nature and
commitment to the hospital’s mission. Rice was chosen from among four nurse
nominees selected by their peers to represent OLBH at the 30th annual
Kentucky Nurse Day Recognition Awards ceremony in Shepherdsville, Ky.
“Ella is an excellent nurse who represents the values of Our Lady of
Bellefonte Hospital and the nursing profession,” Jennifer Moore, OLBH senior
vice president of Patient Care, said. “This honor is one bestowed upon Ella by
her peers, which speaks to the respect she has earned for both her skills as a
nurse and for her caring and compassionate heart.”
OLBH Donates Building
Nursing Scholarship Created
Nurse of Year
OLBH has donated a four-story building at
310 Chillicothe St. in Portsmouth to Shawnee
State University. The building formerly housed
a medical supply company owned by
OLBH. The university will use the building
for community-based education and
programming, as well as a spirituality center. Shawnee State University President Rita
The building also will contain offices for the Rice Morris, PhD, with OLBH CEO Kevin
Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Halter during a press conference announcing
Education, a consortium of 10 public OLBH’s donation to the university.
universities and colleges that work with
schools and businesses to increase the number of college graduates.
At a ceremony announcing the donation, officials from OLBH and the university
also revealed Shawnee State will establish a scholarship that each year for the
next decade will provide in-state tuition for a nursing student.
“I’d like to acknowledge OLBH vice president of Foundation Chuck Charles for
all his hard work,” Kevin Halter, OLBH CEO, said. “He worked tirelessly to make this
donation to Shawnee a reality.”
Phillip Lackey, MD
Bellefonte
Cosmetic &
Reconstructive
Surgery
Relocates
Bellefonte Cosmetic and Reconstructive
Surgery, the practice of plastic
surgeon Phillip Lackey, MD, has
relocated to Bellefonte Centre (1000
Ashland Drive) on the OLBH campus.
The practice is located on the third
floor of Bellefonte Centre in suite 303.
The office number of (606) 325-0753
remains unchanged.
Did You Know...
?
the Catholic Health Association
and other national organizations
have created the website
www.healthcareandyou.org to
inform patients and communities
about the benefits of the
Affordable Care Act? The website
features information on the law in
all 50 states, an interactive
timeline of when parts of the law
take effect and current health
coverage options for people in
various situations.
Summer/Fall | good help 5

| Good Help for
Good Health
PREPARING FOR
SURGERY
FOLLOW THESE STEPS
Even though surgery can be a life-improving solution to
medical problems, it is natural to feel some anxiety prior to
even the most minor procedure. Often times, pre-surgery
worries are simply the fear of the unknown. However, patients
can lessen these jitters by being prepared for the experience.
“I am frequently asked about the surgical process,
particularly since most of the work we do is behind closed
doors and a mystery to many,” said Wilbur Spurlock, nurse
manager for the OLBH Same Day Surgery Center. “I try to
reinforce a few basic things with our patients prior to surgery
to make their experience a more positive one.”
Ask Questions - Understanding the procedure will improve
the chance of a successful outcome. Ask your physician to
explain the procedure to you. Knowing what to expect assists
patients in achieving goals at each step of their care.
Pre-Admission Testing - “If you’re having surgery, you have
enough on your mind,” Spurlock, said. “The pre-admission
testing we offer here at OLBH will give you less to concern
yourself with on the day of surgery.” If pre-admission testing
was ordered by your physician it can be scheduled by calling
(606) 833-4081. Failure to complete pre-admission testing
can result in increased wait time for the patient and may lead
to the procedure needing to be
rescheduled.
Do Not Eat/Drink - Though the
length of time varies depending on
the procedure, it is important to not
eat or drink prior to having a
procedure. “The daily routine of
morning coffee can make it easy to
forget for some,” Spurlock said.
Bring a Friend - Most surgical procedures will require the
patient have someone accompany him/her to OLBH. A family
member or friend can help with medical history, receive
post-operative instructions and, most importantly, drive the
patient home if the procedure does not require an overnight
hospital stay. “One of the most common things we see when
it comes to surgery planning are those patients who haven’t
arranged for a ride home,” Spurlock said.
Since all surgical procedures
are specific to the patient, times
can vary for similar procedures.
Saundra Allen (left) and Rhonda Lyons will greet you in the hospital’s Pre-Admission
Testing Department. Completing pre-admission testing is an important step in
preparing for surgery.
Come Prepared - Sometimes it is the smallest of details that
can be easily forgotten and, in the case of surgery, lead to a
less ideal experience. Always be prepared to provide a medical
history and bring a list of medications you are currently taking.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that will fit over dressings
and do not wear jewelry or make-up to the procedure. Do not
bring valuables such as cash or laptops.
Be on Time - It is important to arrive at the time you were
asked to report to surgery. However, it is important to be
prepared for a wait as your start time may be adjusted based
on the length of other procedures scheduled before you.
“Since all surgical procedures are specific to the patient, times
can vary for similar procedures,”
Spurlock said. “The arrival time is
- Wilbur Spurlock,
Same Day Surgery Center
Nurse Manager
usually determined by the
physician’s office based on an
average time to prepare the patient
and complete each procedure. So I
always recommend patients bring a
good book or magazine to pass the
time if necessary.”
While each surgery type can be
as unique as the individual patient, by following the guidelines
above you can be prepared for the surgery experience and
ultimately improve your outcome. “We have some of the best
physicians and staff in the nation right here at OLBH,” Spurlock
said. “Surgery is nothing to fear, but is something that changes
lives for the better. Just a little preparation on the patients’
part can take the mystery out of surgery and prepare them for
the better life that awaits them afterward.”
6 good help | Summer/Fall

Q&
A
Ask the Doctor with Dr. James Martin
James H. Martin, Jr., MD,
is a general surgeon
who practices on the
OLBH campus (900
St. Christopher Drive).
His office can be
reached at (606) 836-
3770.
Firm Up!
with Ryan Arnett
lead exercise physiologist
at Firm Fitness
Back-to-school for the kids
should also mean back to basics
for parents. Speaking as a dad, I
know we parents have to take care
of our health to be around to enjoy
our kids and grandkids as we grow
older. Also, we want to be positive
role models to our children for
nutrition and exercise. If I eat junk
food all day, my daughter will think
it’s ok to do likewise.
There are 168 hours in a week.
As a back-to-school goal, I
challenge you to find at least three
of those hours to dedicate to
exercise. Sweat a little and focus
on you. When you feel good about
yourself it shows
in every part of
your life. Now is
the time…no one
can do it for you.
Get healthy for
yourself and those
around you.
Firm Up! is courtesy of Firm Fitness,
OLBH’s community wellness facility
at Bellefonte Pavilion. The center
offers personal training, classes such
as zumba, weight and cardio
machines, racquetball courts, saunas
and more. Call (606) 324-0339 for
membership information.
Q
My wife is prone to scrapes and falls and bruises easily. Sometimes
these areas are hard to heal and take a long time. I
know you all have a wound center, but how do we know when
it’s right to just go to her family doctor as opposed to going
to your wound center?
- Joseph, Ashland
A
Your family physician is fully capable of attending to your
common wounds, but it is important to know a wound that
does not progress may be due to a chronic problem. We have
many therapies (hyperbaric oxygen therapy, surgical debridement,
bio-engineered skin grafting, pressure offloading therapy,
compression therapy, and specialty dressings/creams/ointments) to care for
these types of wounds. During treatment, there is communication with the
family physician to inform of progress and other potential interventions.
Therefore, for problem, chronic wounds you (or your physician) should consult
the OLBH Diabetes & Wound Care Center for treatment. The center can be
reached at (606) 833-4043.
Each issue, an OLBH physician answers reader questions. Submit
questions via email to careline@bshsi.org or via mail to OLBH
CareLine, Ask a Doctor, Saint Christopher Drive, Ashland, Ky. 41101.
Readers whose questions are printed will receive a free gift.
HEALTHY RECIPES
from the OLBH kitchen
Homemade Salsa
4 medium tomatoes
(peeled and diced)
1 can (4 oz.) diced green
chiles
Dash or two of Tabasco
½ cup sliced green onions
4 tbsp. fresh cilantro,
chopped
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 clove garlic, chopped
¼ tsp. pepper
½ cup tomato sauce or
no salt-added tomato sauce
for reduced-sodium version
Stir everything together except tomato sauce.
Place about 1 cup of this mixture in food
processor. Add tomato sauce. Cover and blend
until pureed. Stir into remaining mixture. Cover
and chill several hours or overnight. Store, tightly
covered, in refrigerator. Makes about 3 ½ cups.
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
(Per ½ cup serving)
Calories: 66
Carbohydrate: 13g
Protein: 1.7g
Fiber: 2.3g
Sodium: 299mg OR 87mg
using NAS tomato sauce
version
For a super-salty salsa, use two (14.5 oz each) cans diced
tomatoes, drained, in place of the four medium tomatoes:
76 Calories, 17g Carbohydrate, 2.6g Protein, 5g Fiber, 789mg
Sodium
Summer/Fall | good help 7

Hip, Hip, Hip Hurray
Three Orthopedic Success Stories
An accountant, a businessman and a priest walk into a bar. No, it’s not a joke. It’s a possible scenario that couldn’t
have happened a year ago because the accountant, the businessman and the priest had difficulty walking
anywhere due to bad hips.
“The hips are a complex part of the body that provides us with strength, stability, and support,” said OLBH Human Motion
OrthoCare Coordinator Brandy Preston. “Our hip joints are the most important in terms of retaining balance and allowing us
good mobility and range of motion for a wide variety of activities that occur in our daily lives. Hips also provide power for
athletics. There are many strong ligaments and muscles in this area of the body. For many people, one of the reasons hips
become a painful problem is due to the amount of motion and various attachments hips have. There’s a lot that can go wrong.”
Rick Lewis
The Accountant
Rick Lewis, now 55, was in his late 40s when his left hip
began to bother him. “It started with minor pain that gradually
got worse,” he said. “In the six months prior to my surgery in
June of 2010 the pain had got pretty bad.” The pain kept
Lewis from a good night’s sleep and began to limit his physical
activities.
“You can sort of adjust to the pain a little easier when it’s
such a gradual process,” Lewis said. His adjustments included
anti-inflammatory medications and altering his activities.
“When I played golf I used to walk a lot. I totally eliminated
the walking. I rode the cart, and even then I’d pay for playing
for a few days after.” Lewis’ discomfort led to less exercise
which itself led to weight gain.
As director of finance for Bellefonte Physician Services,
Lewis was aware of the reputation of OLBH’s Human Motion
OrthoCare program and knew it was the answer to his
problem. George Aitken, MD, performed Lewis’ hip surgery. “I
couldn’t have asked for my surgery to go any better,” Lewis
said.
During his post-surgery rehabilitation Lewis was amazed by
his quick recovery process. When OLBH’s HomeCare Services
would visit Lewis, a staff member would make him lie on his
bed to lift his leg. “That first visit, if they would have given me
$10,000 I couldn’t have lifted my leg a quarter of an inch,”
Lewis said. “But in just two or three days the flexibility and
strength started to come back.” Within four weeks Lewis had
returned to work and was walking stairs. After eight weeks he
was back on the golf course.
“Ultimately everyone has to make their own decision about
surgery,” Lewis said. “What helped me was everyone I had
spoken to would tell me they wished they would have had
surgery earlier. I never heard anyone say ‘I wish I would have
gone on for three or four more years of pain before I had my
replacement.’”
Rick Lewis pivots at the hip during his swing. Before surgery, the hip required
Lewis to use a golf cart. Post-surgery, Lewis now walks the course with ease.
8 good help | Summer/Fall 2011

Malcolm Howard
Malcolm Howard had the joint replaced in his right hip during the winter and
was ready for golf by spring.
The Businessman
Malcolm Howard, 68, enjoys an active retirement. After
years of work at Ashland, Inc., Howard has spent his
retirement participating in golf and other outdoor endeavors.
Howard’s post-career plans were almost derailed, however,
when he began experiencing discomfort in his hip. “I was
probably in my late 40s or early 50s when I first started
noticing an issue,” Howard said. “I’d have pain in the hips when
playing a round of golf or just walking around. Then it just kept
getting worse.”
Howard worked around his discomfort for as long as he
could. He would take medication for the pain, but after a
decade and a half of living with the problem, the hurt became
too great. “I had to dose up before I started a round of golf
and then I’d have to do so again about halfway through,”
Howard said. “I finally said enough’s enough.”
Howard played golf with friends who had experience with
joint replacement and Howard noticed how these friends lead
normal lives post-surgery whether the issue had been with
their knees or hips. Howard asked his physician to refer him
to Michael Goodwin, MD. “I wanted to go to Mike,” Howard
said. “I knew his reputation. When I got in there and all the
tests were ran, it turns out my hip was pretty much bone on
bone.”
Dr. Goodwin suggested a total joint replacement of
Howard’s right hip. To not miss valuable golf time, Howard
scheduled his surgery during the winter of 2010. Following
surgery, Howard utilized OLBH’s HomeCare Services before
transitioning his rehab to the Human Motion Vitality Center
when he returned to driving. “They all did a great job,” he said.
“I give rehab all the credit in the world for getting me back to
normal so quickly. Rehab was the key. I never had any pain or
took a pill from the moment I left the hospital.”
By March, Howard was back on the golf course. “I never
missed a game,” he said. “I have no regrets. The staff at the
hospital was exceptional. The rehab staff couldn’t have been
better. If I had to have this done again, I’d have it done right
here.”
The Priest
It was the late 1960s when The Rev. John P. Noe, now 64,
first began visiting patients at OLBH. Through the years Father
Noe has provided counsel and comfort to countless individuals.
Yet, Noe’s own discomfort began to interfere with his
responsibilities as a priest at Holy Family Church.
About 10 years ago, Noe’s problem with his right hip was
revealed during a routine x-ray. However, as Noe was
experiencing no pain, his physician suggested a wait-and-see
approach. Noe began to notice discomfort four years ago and
worked around it until the pain became impossible to ignore.
“Back in October (2010) it got to the point I was limping,” Noe
said. “Everything I did there was pain involved. Whether it was
standing or getting up and down out of a chair, I couldn’t do
the things I normally would do. It limited the activities I wanted
to be involved in.”
The right hip pain began to affect Noe’s duties as a priest.
Hospital visits became difficult. “By the time you park and walk
hallways you would be in so much pain,” Noe said. “When I’d
get in the car I’d grab my pant leg and lift my leg into the car
and even to the accelerator.” Standing while leading services
became an excruciating experience for Noe. “I used to brace
myself when rising out of the chair in the sanctuary,” he said.
“Basically I’d lift myself out of the chair with the strength of my
arms. It was the only way I could get up without excruciating
pain.” Many of his parishioners noticed, and urged Noe to seek
help.
Robert Love, MD, performed Noe’s surgery March 15. “The
relief was instant,” Noe said. “The pain was gone.” Within three
weeks Noe returned to leading services at Holy Family. Now
Noe’s parishioners who may be experiencing similar pain ask
their priest about his experience. “I should have had this done
years ago,” Noe said. “You put off the inevitable and think you
can handle it on your own, but there comes a time you have to
get help. It’s a blessing to have had surgery to have this
situation alleviated.”
Noe is not only satisfied to be pain free, but appreciative of
those individuals who assisted him in the journey. “My
association with the hospital goes back over 40 years,” he said.
“The care I’ve witnessed is second to none. It’s outstanding. I
wouldn’t have had my surgery anywhere else.”
For more information call the OLBH CareLine
at (606) 833-CARE (2273).
The Rev. John P. Noe
Before having surgery, Father John Noe’s right hip began to interfere with his duties
as a priest. “Everything I did there was pain involved,” he said.
Summer/Fall 2011 | good help 9

Pulmonologist Mohamad Abul-Khoudoud, M.D., prepares to use narrow-band imaging technology. The new technology can
detect pre-cancerous lesions in the lungs.
A Matter of
LIFE
and
Breath
Lung cancer is public enemy
number one. The disease kills
more people than breast,
prostate, colon, liver, kidney and
melanoma cancers combined. This
staggering statistic points to the
modern epidemic that is lung
cancer. With lung cancer, time is
of the essence, and now OLBH has
introduced technology that allows
for the earliest possible detection
and treatment of lung cancer.
10 good help | Fall 2011

Anyone is susceptible to lung cancer. It is a myth that
only smokers are in real danger of contracting the
disease. While smoking greatly increases one’s
chances of acquiring lung cancer (see sidebar for more
information on risk factors for the disease), more people who
have never smoked die of lung cancer in the United States
annually than die of AIDS. “Simply put, lung cancer is the
largest single cause of death in our country,” said director of
the OLBH Respiratory Department, Sheila Burton. “More than
28 percent of all cancer-related deaths are the result of lung
cancer. This is why we at OLBH are trying to fight the disease
by offering technology that will allow us to catch the cancer
in its earliest possible stage.”
Two new technologies are being used in the hospital’s
Respiratory Department to assist with early detection. The
new tools OLBH are utilizing in the fight against lung cancer
are Narrow Band Imaging (NBI), a technology that can
identify pre-cancerous lesions in the lungs and
Electromagnetic Navigation (ENB), a GPS-like technology
used to locate, biopsy and prepare to treat lung lesions. OLBH
is the first healthcare facility in the Ashland area to provide
these services as an option for patients who are suspected of
having or have learned they have lung lesions.
Typically a patient with a lesion on his/her lung had the
options of major surgery to remove a section of the lung for
biopsy or watchful waiting to see if the lesion grows. Now,
OLBH can diagnose and treat cancer earlier to yield better
outcomes. At OLBH, pre-cancerous cells are diagnosed with
the NBI and then the ENB’s GPS-like technology utilizes a
catheter-based system that travels the patient’s natural
airways to access a lesion and obtain a biopsy. Previously, such
areas would have been difficult to reach without surgery,
An OLBH pulmonary physician utilizes the OLBH
Respiratory Department to perform the new procedures on
an outpatient basis. “We are pleased to offer minimallyinvasive
alternatives for patients who are suspected of having
or have been diagnosed with lung spots that may be hard to
reach or cannot tolerate a more invasive procedure,” Burton
said. “These are options that will help many patients.
Combining NBI and ENB represents a new approach for
detecting lung cancer earlier. The procedures enable
physicians to detect and biopsy lung lesions that are too small
and inaccessible through the traditional bronchoscope. Best
of all for them, patients go home after their procedures are
done..”
OLBH’s new technology for
the earliest possible
detection of lung cancer
uses the body’s natural
airways to access the lungs.
OLBH pulmonologists, from left, Dr. Michael Ehrie, Dr. Mahmoud
Moammar, Dr. Mohamad Abul-Khoudoud and Dr. Diego Maldonado.
So what are some of the advantages to patients thanks to
NBI and ENB? First, the patient avoids having to undergo a
more invasive surgical procedure to obtain a diagnosis. In
addition, compared to surgery, the complication rate is far
lower, as is the risk of infection. Lastly, compared to the
conventional non-surgical procedural approach of using a
bronchoscope, the NBI and ENB combination is a solution that
has been proven to increase accuracy for diagnosing and
determining the severity of lung cancer.
While early detection of any disease is important,
prevention is always the best cure. One can not completely
reduce the risks of contracting cancer, but the risks of lung
cancer can be reduced by the following:
• Do not use or quit use of tobacco
• Avoid second-hand smoke
• Eat a healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Incorporate physical activity into each day
Knowing the risks of lung cancer and attempting to lower
them is vital. Yet, the risk of developing lung cancer is still
there even for the healthiest of non-smokers. It is for this
reason that the most important tool to combating the disease
is by catching it early. Only 16 percent of lung cancer patients
are diagnosed before their disease has spread to other parts
of their bodies. OLBH’s new technologies can detect and
combat the disease before it spreads.
“Each day 450 people in the United States die from lung
cancer,” Burton said. “Many of these deaths could have been
prevented by early detection. This is what we offer with NBI
and ENB.” For more information on NBI and ENB, call the
OLBH CareLine at (606) 833-CARE (2273).
Risk Factors
If you or someone you know is at high risk for lung cancer,
ask your physician if you could benefit from OLBH’s newest
technologies. High risk factors for lung cancer include:
(1) Smoking half a pack a day for 40 years, a pack a day
for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years
(2) Emphysema or chronic bronchitis
(3) Occupational-related asbestos disease
(4) Previous lung cancer or head/neck or esophageal
cancer
Fall 2011 | good help 11

DIABETES & WOUND CARE CENTER
AT OUR LADY OF BELLEFONTE HOSPITAL
We Heal
Wounds
and change lives!
And We Have the Awards to Prove It
When you receive awards as a result of your patients being satisfied
with their care, then you know you’re doing something right. At the
Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital (OLBH) Diabetes & Wound Care
Center, we have been honored for our wound services for the third
straight year by receiving the Diversified Clinical Services’ Center of
Distinction Award. The award comes in part from our patients, as it
is based on high patient satisfaction rates, exceptional healing
results, and outstanding clinical outcomes during the past 12
months.
What does this award-winning care mean for you? It means you
can trust OLBH for the most advanced treatment options available
for serious, chronic wounds. Our award-winning approach helps
speed recovery, so you can return to the activities you love. Do you
have a problem wound that refuses to heal? We’ll work with your
personal doctor to create a treatment program just for you.
The OLBH Diabetes &
Wound Care Center
boasts a 96% heal rate for
wounds with an average
of 28 days to heal.
1000 Ashland Drive • Ashland, KY 41101
(606) 833-4043
www.olbh.com