McKeesport Hospital Foundation holds 33rd annual Invitational ...

42 | Issue No. 45New bariatric weight losssurgery program developedat Sharon RegionalSharon Regional has announced a new Bariatric SurgeryProgram, under the direction of Ravi Alapati, M.D., a generalsurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive surgery andsingle incision laparoscopic surgery. The program offers amulti-disciplinary approach to surgical weight loss, helpingto ensure the best possible outcomes. The bariatric surgeryteam consists of surgeons, dietitians, psychologists, physicaltherapists, nurses, and a coordinator to provide a weight lossprogram that addresses all of the needs of the patients. Thenew program offers three surgical options for patients, includinglaparoscopic RY gastric bypass, the Lap-Band system,and the vertical sleeve gastrectomy.Ravi AlapatiAccording to Alapati, the introduction of bariatric surgeryat Sharon Regional follows a natural progression in advancesthe Health System has made in laparoscopic surgery and SILS (single incision laparoscopicsurgery) over the past 24 months. "I am very excited about the new bariatric surgery program,"said Alapati. "Through specializing in the gastric bypass, lap band, and verticalsleeve gastrectomy procedures, we can offer our patients a truly customized surgicalapproach to their weight loss plan and insure we utilize the techniques that best fit theirindividual needs.”The laparoscopic RY gastric bypass is performed by introducing a laparoscope that isconnected to a video camera through small abdominal incisions, which magnify the viewof the internal organs on a television monitor. The entire operation is performed "inside"the abdomen after gas has been inserted to expand it. Special stapling instruments are usedto create a new, small stomach pouch. The remainder of the stomach isn’t removed, but iscompletely stapled shut and divided from the new small stomach pouch. The result is anearly sense of fullness, combined with a sense of satisfaction that reduces the desire to eat.The LAP-BAND® System is the first FDA-approved adjustable gastric band for use inweight reduction. It was approved for use in severely obese adults with a Body Mass Index(BMI) of 40 or more or for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one severe obesity-relatedhealth condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and asthma.Unlike gastric bypass, the LAP-BAND® System does not involve stomach cutting, staplingor intestinal re-routing. In many cases, the LAP-BAND® System procedure can beperformed on an outpatient basis and the patient can return home the same day. By reducingstomach capacity, the LAP-BAND® System can help patients achieve long-termweight loss by creating an earlier feeling of fullness while maintaining a healthy diet. It isreversible and can be removed at any time.The newest technique in weight loss surgery is the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. VerticalSleeve Gastrectomy is a new bariatric procedure that offers an excellent alternative toboth the laparoscopic RY gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding. Perhaps thebiggest advantage of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is that it does not involve any bypassof the intestinal tract. Patients don’t experience the complications of intestinal bypass thatcould include intestinal obstruction, osteoporosis, anemia, vitamin deficiency and proteindeficiency.Dr. Alapati was recently named to the 2010 list of “America’s Top Minimally InvasiveSurgeons” compiled by Consumers Research Council of America. He completed a fiveyeargeneral surgery residency at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in New York anda laparoscopic surgery fellowship at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York.During his fellowship, he focused on advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery,along with extensive experience in bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass, theLap-Band system, and the new Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedures. He developed aspecial interest towards bariatric surgery after having seen the remarkable improvementand complete resolution of the obesity-related health conditions in patients who chosebariatric surgery.For more information on the bariatric surgery program at Sharon Regional call 724-983-5518 or 800-346-7997.When it opens in early 2011, HamotWomen’s Hospital in Erie will be theregion’s only free-standing facility exclusivelydedicated to women’s health. Inpreparation and celebration, Hamot recentlyunveiled its Faces of Women Campaign.“As we prepare for the opening of theHamot Women’s Hospital, we are excitedto launch this community project aimed atgathering the faces of this community,”said Debbie Burbules, president of HamotWomen’s Hospital. “We want to show justhow many women may be served by thenew facility.”FacesofWomen.org provides a way forparticipants to honor the women in theirlives by uploading a picture to the virtualwall. The goal of the project is to collectas many pictures as possible to be displayedon a banner on the day of the openingof the hospital. Each picture representsa woman who has the potential to beserved by the women’s hospital. Additionally,visitors to the website can purchasetiles with the uploaded photos on them thatwill be permanently places in the women’shospital.“This is an opportunity to become apart of history,” said Boo Hagerty, chiefdevelopment officer at Hamot. “What away to honor a special woman in your lifeand give back to the community at thesame time.”The five-story building has beendesigned with comfort in mind whilemaintaining Hamot’s commitment to providingthe highest quality care and moststate-of-the-art technology for its patients,wpahospitalnews.comDelta Dental Awards $10,000 Grantto Altoona Community Dental Clinicsto Help Uninsured PatientsTwo community dental clinics that provide much-needed services to low-incomepeople who lack access to care will receive a $10,000 grant from Delta Dental ofPennsylvania.The grant will directly reimburse clinic dentists for their services to patients whohave unmet dental needs and who are unable to pay on their own for those services.The first grant installment of $5,000 was presented today to the James W. BarnerCommunity Dental Clinics of the Partnership for a Healthy Community, whichprovides oral healthcare services for those with limited access to care due to medicalconditions, disability or limited financial resources. The two clinics collectivelyserve about 7,500 patients a year, including more than 4,000 children.The partnership was created by and operates as an affiliate of Altoona RegionalHealth System. The children’s clinic is located in and operated in partnership withthe Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.Although about half of the clinics’ patients are beneficiaries under dental Medicaidor Medicaid Managed Care, many lack any financial resources to help pay forcare. The clinic provides these patients approximately $100,000 per year in servicessuch as dental screenings, restorations and emergency care.“Our clinics are a great story of good people coming together to help neighborsin need,” said Jerry Murray, president and CEO of Altoona Regional Health System.“We have been blessed by the hard work of devoted and community-minded individualswho turned a dream into reality.“Generous partners such as Delta Dental help us keep the dream alive. And we thankDr. Donald Betar, clinical director, who was instrumental in securing this grant.”The clinics serve an eight-county area (Blair, Centre, Huntingdon, Fulton, Bedford,Cambria, Clearfield, and Clinton). They are the area’s largest provider of oralhealthcare services to patients with limited resources.“These two clinics routinely absorb the cost of urgent and emergency care for thedentally underserved,” said Gary D. Radine, Delta Dental president and CEO. “We’repleased that this grant will go directly toward paying for this care. The grant is consistentwith our mission to expand access to care for as many people as possible.”For more information, visit www. deltadentalins.com or www.altoonaregional.org.MedWELL Urgent Care Center toopen in EbensburgCaregivers at Conemaugh Health System’s newest MedWELL Urgent Care Centerrecently began seeing patients in May. Physicians and other medical personnel,including physician assistants and nurse practitioners, staff the new center.“We want to stress that the MedWELL is not meant to replace the relationshipbetween a patient and their primary care physician, which is extremely important,”says Dr. David Carlson, chief medical officer of the Conemaugh Health System.“We realize, however, that there are times that people need medical attention whentheir physician’s office is closed, and the emergency room is the only option. Med-WELL is designed to provide an alternative for care when nonemergent situationsarise and the primary care physician is unavailable.”Some conditions that can be treated by the MedWELL team include common illnessesand colds, sprains and strains, minor cuts or injuries, and skin and eye irritations.Conemaugh Health System’s first MedWELL location on Scalp Avenue in Johnstownhas had more than 20,000 patient visits since opening its doors in September 2008.Located at Conemaugh Ebensburg, 236 Jamesway Road in the Jamesway Plaza,MedWELL will be open to walk-in patients seven days a week, Monday through Fridayfrom 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limitedlaboratory and imaging services also available on-site. Call 814-472-7336.Hamot Women’s Hospital Unveils Faces of Women Campaignphysicians and employees. In addition tothe obstetrics, gynecology and neonatalintensive care, Hamot Women’s Hospitalwill encompass the broad range ofwomen's services through the Hamot forWomen program including heart health,breast health, orthopaedics, neuroscience,plastics, psychology and more.In November, Hamot Medical Centerreceived a check for $100,000 from PNCFoundation as part of the PNC Grow UpGreat Program. The grant is being used fora Children’s Play Room to be built in thenew hospital. The PNC Foundation Children’sPlay Room, as it will be named, willbe adjacent to the Second Floor welcomearea and lobby and will offer a dedicatedspace for children to play. With toys andbooks appropriate for children of a varietyof ages, the Play Room will offer an environmentfor parents and older siblings ofinfants to have fun and interact during areprieve from the clinical setting of thehospital.“Our goal it to create a facility that willserve the women of this region like neverbefore,” said John Malone, president andCEO at Hamot Medical Center. “The generosityof the PNC Foundation providesanother level of care for our patients andtheir families. We are very appreciative forits support.”For more information on Faces ofWomen and the Hamot Women’s Hospital,please contact Lucia Conti, manager ofMedia Relations, at Lucia.Conti@hamot.org. More information about Hamot can befound at www.hamot.org.