Annual Report 2010 - Gifford Medical Center

surgery division
Left, podiatric surgeon Dr. Paul Smith moves the
“mini c-arm” into place to take a live image during
surgery of a patient’s foot.
Center, central sterile supply technician Scott
Dezotelle operates the new autoclave.
Right, licensed nursing assistant Michele Young
collects supplies in the Surgery Division’s inventory
supply room.
The best of both:
Cutting edge, compassionate surgical care
There are people who travel from across the globe to
have surgery by Gifford’s esteemed podiatrists. Others are
seeking out high quality eye surgery. Still others will only
trust Gifford’s orthopedic surgeons to replace their knees
or hips.
These are high quality surgeons – some of the nation’s
best. They’re the caliber of surgeon you would think would
be operating out of the expansive surgery wing of a major,
big city institution. But they’re not in New York or Boston;
they’re at Gifford – a rural community hospital that has
seen its surgery program grow in recent years with new
surgeons, a new operating room, a renovated recovery suite
and new technology.
“We have a lot of surgeons who are doing big, innovative
procedures for a small rural
area, and we’re very fortunate
“May the
world’s
population...
have the
same amazing
health care
I am having
right now.”
Ethan Hubbard,
Chelsea
for that,” says Jamie Floyd,
Surgery Nurse Manager.
Gifford boasts four podiatric
surgeons, uniquely doing
operations in the lower leg
(not just the foot and ankle),
and who have a focus on
sports medicine.
“These are very talented
people,” says Dr. Ovleto
Ciccarelli, a full-time general
surgeon at Gifford and new
Surgery Division Medical
Director. “They’re the top of
the heap.”
Besides Dr. Ciccarelli, Dr.
Maury Smith and physician
assistant Nikki Gewirz round
out the general surgery team. There are two orthopedic
surgeons – both women and tops in the their field, Dr.
Stephanie Landvater and Dr. Bess Brackett. Eye surgeon
Dr. Christopher Soares treats both children and adults. The
Birthing Center, bustling and renowned, brings birthing
women from across the state and thus results in some
caesarean sections. A gastroenterologist visits from Fletcher
Allen Health Care, and Gifford’s own urology providers
offer a variety of services in the clinic and the operating
room.
Increasingly there is a focus on breast care, wound care
and coordinated acute care, says Surgery Division Vice
President Rebecca O’Berry.
With the inception of the hospitalist inpatient care
program in 2006, Gifford can now operate on sicker
patients, or those with serious underlying health
conditions. Those patients are also now seen by a doctor
in Gifford’s pre-operative clinic. A patient’s unique care
plan is then coordinated among the pre-operative, surgery,
anesthesiology and hospitalist teams. “It’s a smooth
process,” Rebecca says.
Delivering high quality care additionally depends on
giving surgeons the tools they need to diagnose, treat and
operate on patients.
“We’ve made a big investment in technology,” says Jamie.
A “mini c-arm” is a new imaging tool used by surgeons
in the operating room to take a single picture and
continuous live image of a small body part, such as a
foot, ankle or wrist. There is also a whole new endoscopy
system as well as new eye surgery equipment and urology
scopes. High-resolution monitors and new software allow
surgeons a detailed look at diagnostic images and greater
versatility in using those images. A new, larger autoclave
for sterilizing surgical instruments keeps pace with the now
busier operating rooms.
Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks or anesthesia provide
better pain control. For the first time a “pain-free”
colonoscopy through the use of anesthesia is offered.
Epidural catheters left in for three days can provide relief
during surgery and following it.
And then there are the less tangible – safety and systems,
how nicely you’re treated, how well the staff communicates
with you and your waiting family members, and how
attentive the follow-up care is when you get home.
Gifford’s Best Kept Secrets - 14 -
Annual Report 2010