Annual Report 2010 - Gifford Medical Center

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ancilliary services Left, Radiology manager Steve Votey positions a patient in the 40-slice CT scanner. Center, radiology technologist Carolyn Palazzolo preps for an X-ray. Gifford offers X-ray services in three locations, Berlin, Randolph and Sharon. Right, radiology technologist Michael Robichaud prepares to recieve the next MRI patient. Diagnostic imaging, with all the ‘bells and whistles’ and plenty of hometown charm It wasn’t so long ago that Gifford was announcing the arrival of its 40-slice CT scanner, rivaling technologies at larger neighboring hospitals. That scanner replaced an earlier model that was the oldest and only single-slice machine operating in Vermont. When Gifford sold it, it went to a veterinary practice. Today, much has changed. The modern and spacious Radiology and Nuclear Medicine departments at Gifford offer state-of-the-art technologies with a personal touch. Some of the new equipment includes a digital ultrasound machine, a nuclear medicine gamma camera and a bone density machine for detecting osteoporosis. Digital mammography is the latest addition, completing the medical center’s upgrade to total filmless imaging. No more dark rooms to develop images or light boxes and a magnifying glass to see them. Mobile MRI services are available at the hospital and at “We have all of the bells and whistles that tertiary care centers have.” Pam Caron, Director of Ancillary Services two of Gifford’s health centers – the Gifford Health Center at Berlin and the Sharon Health Center. The Berlin and Sharon clinics also provide X-rays on site for the convenience of patients and timely diagnoses. “We have all of the bells and whistles that tertiary care centers have,” says Pam Caron, Gifford Director of Ancillary Services. These high-tech services are offered usually without the wait time of a larger facility and by professionals patients know. Chances are, says Radiology Department Manager Steve Votey, “Patients walk in the door and are cared for by someone they’ve known for many years.” It’s that personal touch that makes the difference, says Leslie Howard-McIntyre, 47, of Randolph. A private practice mental health counselor, Leslie has serious health problems, including a rare liver disease that has her liver so enlarged it’s collapsed most of one lung, causing her to be on oxygen all the time. So when it came time for her annual mammogram, it was the last thing she was thinking about. It wasn’t until the Gifford Radiology Department called her in November to tell her she was due for her appointment that she remembered and scheduled the annual exam. She had her mammogram in early December. Within days, Radiology Supervisor Terri Hodgdon was on the phone with Leslie asking her to come back in for a followup exam. The schedule was full, but Leslie was fit in. She had another mammogram, ultrasound and then a biopsy with her husband, Patient Care Navigator Brittany Ward and Breast Care Coordinator Jane Harrness at her side. “I started crying. I got really scared. They worked really hard to relieve my fears,” says Leslie. There was good reason for Leslie’s fears. She was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. “They jumped on it quick. Not only did they get the test done that I needed, they were compassionate along the way. The Radiology Department was key to getting my diagnosis,” says Leslie, calling the staff “phenomenal” and that fateful call reminding her of her annual mammogram a blessing. “I’d be walking around right now with cancer if I hadn’t gotten that call,” says Leslie, who had a mastectomy in early 2011. Gifford’s Best Kept Secrets - 12 - Annual Report 2010
Oncology nurses Sheila Metcalf, left, and Jessica Spencer, right, share a laugh with breast cancer patient Donna Viens of Randolph. Donna calls her Gifford caregivers “fantastic,” “caring” and “compassionate.“ surgery division Kindhearted cancer care close to home Long-time local educator Donna Viens, 61, of Randolph found a lump in one of her breasts in October. She scheduled an appointment with her primary care physician Dr. Milt Fowler at Gifford, and he delivered the news that she feared. “‘If you want my gut reaction, it’s breast cancer,’” Donna recalls her physician saying. Her and husband Bruce’s next question was, “Are we going to Dartmouth or Fletcher Allen” Neither. Dr. Fowler referred Donna just upstairs to a Gifford surgeon. Since, Donna has seen general surgeon Dr. Ovleto Ciccarelli. She had a biopsy in Gifford’s Radiology Department with patient care navigator Brittany Ward at her side. Her oncologist, Dr. John Valentine, started her on outpatient chemotherapy under the care of Gifford oncology nurses Sheila Metcalf and Jessica Spencer. Donna says she couldn’t ask for anything more. She calls her doctors “fantastic” and her nurses “caring and compassionate.” Gifford’s oncology program is among the smallest accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The program includes care from Dr. Valentine and specially trained nurses; outpatient treatments including chemotherapy, blood transfusions and other fluids as needed. There is also hormone therapy for breast and prostate cancers; many end-of-life supports through Gifford’s palliative care program; and oversight by an interdisciplinary Cancer Committee that meets via telecom with a radiation oncologist from Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center. “We certainly can treat many cancers at Gifford,” says Dr. Valentine, an oncologist who sees patients at Gifford and has been practicing for 30 years. “I enjoy coming to Gifford. I like the people who work there. I like the patients.” The personal touch from Gifford’s staff is part of what makes the local care special. Sheila has been a certified oncology nurse at Gifford for about 15 years. Because patients come back week after week for treatments and often stay for hours, working as an oncology nurse is extremely rewarding. “You get to know patients and their family members,” Sheila says. And because of the small size of Gifford’s oncology department, patients in turn get to know Sheila and Jessica. Their goal is to help patients feel well during treatment. “People really can go on and live their lives,” Sheila says. Best of all, says Jessica, “We’ve had people who have been down and are now leading a normal life.” Donna is one of those patients who is living remarkably well. She comes once every two weeks for chemotherapy to shrink her tumor and kill cancer cells, and other than a couple of tired days following treatment, is feeling well. She enjoys a “spectacular” lunch while undergoing treatment and is thankful for familiar caregivers and a short commute. “I can’t tell you how pleased we are,” Donna says. “I feel that I’m in good hands. I couldn’t ask for anything better.” “I couldn’t ask for anything better.” Donna Viens, Randolph Annual Report 2010 - 13 - Gifford’s Best Kept Secrets
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Annual Report 2010 - Gifford Medical Center

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