FALL 2009 HIGHLIGHTS - Sansum Clinic

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highlights
FAll 2009
TM
inside: latest medical technologies, new doctors, sansum clinic in our community, and more…
sansum clinic health resource center
celebrates 5 years of connecting people to important health information
Front row L-R: Margie Clark, Simin Rastan, Mary Lou Kravetz,
Linda Lietzke, Rachel Martinez, Cheryl Rogers.
Back row L -R: HRC Coordinator, Dawn O’Bar, David Statucki,
Luke Bennett, Marty Appel, Judy Alexander.
As more people are searching the Web for medical information,
studies have shown that once they find health information,
whether online or in print, people still need to talk with
someone about it. The increasing access to information via
technology is actually helping to enable the human connection
in health care.
The Health Resource Center (HRC) at Sansum Clinic recently
celebrated 5 years of making that important connection. Made
possible through the generous support of Eli and Leatrice Luria,
Sansum Clinic donors, the center’s services are free of charge
and available to all members of the community. The HRC
combines an extensive collection of books, videos and printed
materials with expert knowledge in finding accurate and reliable
information online. More importantly, the HRC is a private,
comfortable place where a health educator and trained
pulmonary & critical care medicine
helping patients breathe a little easier
The Department of Pulmonology/Critical Care Medicine at Sansum Clinic hosted
an open house during the summer for the local medical community. The evening
appetizer & drink event provided doctors an opportunity to meet fellow physicians
in Santa Barbara. Over 50 primary care physicians and specialists attended.
The team of experts in the Sansum Clinic Department of Pulmonary/Critical Care
Medicine provides comprehensive consultative, diagnostic and therapeutic services
for patients with illnesses that affect the lungs and breathing. They have expertise
in a wide range of respiratory conditions including: lung cancer diagnosis and
treatment; chronic obstructive lung diseases including asthma; interstitial lung
diseases; pulmonary vascular disease including pulmonary hypertension; sleep
disorders; acute and chronic respiratory failure; and various lung infections.
continued on page 2
Dr. David Zisman, Dr. Arnold Gorin and
Dr. Eric Schroeder of the Sansum Clinic
Department of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine.

health resource center, continued from page 1.
volunteers will assist anyone in finding the information he or
she needs.
Since the center opened in June of 2004, it has received over
5,000 visits for a variety of reasons. Dawn O’Bar, the HRC
Coordinator and specialized Health Educator, runs the center
and has been with Sansum Clinic since 1995. Dawn says that
they have logged more than 900 reasons that people have visited
the center ranging from understanding Advance Health Care
Directives to information on specific conditions including
Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, and Arthritis, among many others.
They also come in for lifestyle information like healthier eating
and managing stress in their lives.
The HRC recently celebrated 5 years of serving the community
by honoring its many dedicated volunteers. Of the dozen or so
active volunteers, two have been there since the center opened
and eight have been there four years or more. Their varied
backgrounds include; a retired General Motors executive, a
former college health education professor, an author and
publisher of health textbooks, and a consultant and advisor
to the World Health Organization. The HRC volunteers go
through an extensive training program, commit their time to
Did You Know?
pre-register by phone
Patients who have Medicare insurance or other patients with
no co-payment may pre-register for their appointment over the
telephone. This will allow patients to bypass the registration desk
and go directly to their appointment on that specific day
of care.
helping others, and express
a heartfelt passion for what
they do.
“I can identify with a
person who because of
a disease is suddenly
frightened. It is so very
comforting to find that
when you reach out for
help, you find people who
respond. The HRC fulfills
my desire to be there for
people, as they were there
for me,” says Bill Schultz.
David Statucki adds, “I particularly wanted to work with the
Health Resource Center because I feel it is important for people
to have accurate health care information. The HRC provides
me an opportunity to give back to the community, and enriches
my knowledge and understanding of medical issues at the
same time.”
A recent visitor to the center remarked, “When I inquired about
a suitable diet, the HRC staff sent me 13 pages of suggestions
and a suggested cookbook. You simply cannot ask for better
service than that.”
The Health Resource Center is located on the first floor of
Sansum Clinic at Pesetas Lane in Santa Barbara. Drop-in
hours are Monday-Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and
Friday from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon, or by appointment.
The center also takes inquiries via telephone at (805) 681-7672,
and maintains an extensive Web Guide of qualified health
resources on the Sansum Clinic website at SansumClinic.org.
Please join Sansum Clinic in thanking our many
HRC volunteers.
How does this work?
Pesetas Lane office
One to two days prior to your scheduled appointment call
our Pre-Arrival Department to pre-register at 681-1840.
The pre-arrival representative will verify your insurance
and personal information and provide you with a
confirmation number.
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Fall 2009

our doctors
make the difference
new faces at sansum clinic
Sansum Clinic’s dedication to excellence has attracted highly trained
and talented doctors from around the country to Santa Barbara County.
We welcome these new physicians to Sansum Clinic and thank all of
our doctors for their compassion and dedication in providing the
highest quality of care to our community.
James (Jake) Bliss, MD has joined the Sansum Clinic Orthopedics
Department. Dr. Bliss obtained his medical degree from Tulane Medical
School in New Orleans and then completed his orthopedic residency,
followed by a trauma fellowship, at Brown Medical School/Rhode Island
Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Bliss completed a Lower Extremity
Reconstruction/Joint Replacement fellowship at Scripps Clinic in
La Jolla.
Benjamin Diener, MD has joined the Internal Medicine Department
at Sansum Clinic, Pesetas. Dr. Diener obtained his medical degree
from Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, and completed
his internship and residency in internal medicine at Santa Barbara
Cottage Hospital.
Andrew Park, MD has joined the Family Medicine Department at
Sansum Clinic, Lompoc. Dr. Park attended UCLA and obtained his
medical degree from Yonsei University in South Korea. He completed
his internship in family practice at John F. Kennedy Medical Center and
a residency at Lutheran Medical Center. In addition to English, Dr. Park
is fluent in Korean and conversant in Spanish and Chinese.
Michael Polo, MD has joined the Sansum Clinic Psychiatry
Department. Dr. Polo obtained his medical degree from the Medical
College of Ohio and completed his psychiatry residency at Johns
Hopkins Hospital where he was elected Chief Resident.
David Zisman, MD, MS has joined the Department of Pulmonary/
Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Zisman served as Clinical Instructor in the
Thoracic Diseases Unit at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida and
as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary and Critical Care
Division at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Also
fluent in Spanish, Dr. Zisman was Associate Professor of Medicine in
Residence in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at
the David Geffen School of Medicine and Director of the Interstitial
Lung Disease Program at UCLA.
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SansumClinic.org
James (Jake) Bliss, MD
Benjamin Diener, MD
Andrew Park, MD
Michael Polo, MD
David Zisman, MD, MS
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Facts
thirty specialties
Sansum Clinic is the largest independent
not-for-profit multi-specialty provider
of outpatient services between the Los
Angeles Basin and the San Francisco Bay
Area, providing the full spectrum of
services ranging from primary care to
more than 30 specialties.
fine physicians
Fine physicians are the key to providing
excellence in health care from pediatrics
to geriatrics. Sansum Clinic has a long
history of recruiting the best and the
brightest from across the nation. A
significant number of all practicing
physicians in our community were
recruited by or began their careers
at Sansum Clinic.
collaboration
Sansum Clinic cares for the good
health of people who could not
otherwise afford medical services
through its collaboration with the
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics,
providing over $200,000 annually
in diagnostic services.
for the good health
become part of
the sansum legacy
the legacy society of sansum clinic
The Legacy Society is a group of friends who have made a gift to Sansum Clinic
in their estate plans. Our members represent all ages, come from all walks of life
and are dedicated to helping us bring together the best physicians, the latest
technologies, and the most comprehensive health care to meet the specialized
needs of our community.
The amount of the gift is entirely your choice and there are no minimum or
maximum amounts required to join. One of the simplest ways of providing a
lasting legacy is a bequest. A bequest allows you to make a contribution without
diminishing the assets available to you during your lifetime.
Your support can help ensure that Sansum Clinic continues its commitment to
comprehensive health care through teamwork, community collaboration, research
and education. Sansum Clinic’s planned giving specialist would be pleased to
provide information about estate plans and to answer specific questions about
your personal situation.
The future of health care is everyone’s concern. For information please contact
Dru A. Hartley, Director of Philanthropy, at (805) 681-7726.
taking strides in the fight
against alzheimer’s disease
Sansum Clinic participated in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease in the
annual Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk in 2009. Deanna Power, RN
led the Sansum Clinic “Forget-Me-Nots” team of Clinic employees, patients
and physicians. The Department of Neurology physicians Paul Gertler, MD,
Victor Rosenfeld, MD, Paul Willis, MD, Hsien Young, MD, and John
Zolan, MD, also staffed the “Ask the Doctor” booth that fielded questions
about Alzheimer’s disease and directed attendees to local resources.
Over 600 attended the event at Chase Palm Park, which included an
exhibitor fair and dinner.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic that is now the seventh leading
cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that someone in America
develops Alzheimer’s disease every 70 seconds. By mid-century someone will
develop Alzheimer’s disease every 33 seconds.
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of our community
how you can help
The rapid evolution of medical treatments and technologies, and soaring costs,
continue to increase the challenges to health care today.
As a nonprofit organization, Sansum Clinic relies on private support from people
like you so that we may continue our commitment to the health care needs of our
community. Please take a moment and complete the remit envelope in your
newsletter or visit us at www.sansumclinic.org and make your annual gift online.
Thank you in advance and here’s to your good health.
seasonal flu shot clinics
support for children, adults and seniors
Sansum Clinic delivers seasonal flu vaccinations to up to 20,000 adults and
children throughout our communities. Flu Shot Clinics are held at Clinic
locations including Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Solvang, and Lompoc.
We are in partnership with
several other community
organizations to sponsor
the Senior Expo at the
Earl Warren Showgrounds
again this year where we
vaccinate over 750 seniors.
Sansum Clinic vaccinates
our employees and visits
area companies vaccinating
more than 2,000 of
those employees.
Kim Hurley, RN, Director of Nursing, consults
with one of Sansum Clinic’s 20,000 seasonal flu
shot recipients throughout our communities.
Fall 2009 SansumClinic.org
Throughout the season,
Sansum Clinic operates an
Influenza Hotline with
information about Sansum Clinic Flu Shots, seasonal influenza, and the H1N1
(swine flu) vaccination, which is projected to be released sometime this fall.
For more information, call the Influenza Hotline at 681-7805.
Your gift of support can provide a flu shot for a child or an adult unable to pay.
asthma day camp
camp wheeze
Camp Wheeze, a day camp for local elementary school children with
asthma, held its annual camp, thanks to Sansum Clinic along with a
generous donation from Williams-Corbett Foundation. Clinic physician
Myron Liebhaber, MD started the camp 31 years ago. This year’s 25
students learned about asthma and physical development skills while
making crafts, doing skits, and having fun.
ira gifts
extended
through 2009
Congress has extended the legislation that
allows donors to make tax-free gifts from
their IRA Accounts through year end.
If you are 70½ or older you can make
tax-free gifts totaling up to $100,000
from your traditional or Roth IRA to
Sansum Clinic.
You will need to make your gift on or
before December 31, 2009.
Contact your IRA Custodian for the forms
necessary to make a gift to Sansum Clinic.
For further information or to inform us
of a pending gift please call:
Dru A. Hartley
Director of Philanthropy
(805) 681-7726
Myron Liebhaber, MD and students at Camp Wheeze
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the latest medical tools and technologies
advanced diagnostic imaging
Sansum Clinic has incorporated one the most advanced diagnostic tools for helping physicians
reach confident diagnoses to provide the best patient care. Our new Signa BDx 1.5T MR
system delivers magnetic resonance (MR) images faster, with higher resolution.
According to CEO and Medical Director Kurt Ransohoff, “This advanced technology
complements and extends the range of quality diagnostic services that Sansum Clinic offers.
It provides us with vastly improved image quality and imaging speed. For patients, that
translates to shorter exams and greater comfort. And of course, for doctors the greatest
benefit comes from the increased diagnostic confidence we can have in MR test results.”
MR exams are used when people are ill or injured, or when a physician suspects a medical
problem that is not easily detectable from a conventional physical examination. MR
noninvasively examines a variety of anatomical areas, such as the head, extremities and spine,
including detailed imaging of the vascular system and major organs.
Rene Kelly, Lead Radiology Technologist
new advances in the detection of breast cancer
One of the exciting new capabilities the Clinic is able to offer with the system is dual breast
scanning. In the time it normally takes to image just one breast, Sansum Clinic can now
image both breasts simultaneously.
The integration of CADstream (computer-aided detection) capabilities with MRI has
advanced our ability to detect and diagnose breast cancer. Sansum Clinic does about
16,000 mammograms each year and has noted an increase in breast detection rate from
3 in 1,000 to 4 in 1,000 since 2003. Early detection is crucial with this disease and
Sansum Clinic is committed to providing the technologies that save lives.
For more information about magnetic resonance diagnostic testing at Sansum Clinic,
contact the Radiology Department at (805) 681-7671.
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Fall 2009

available today at sansum clinic
laser eye care center
Eyesight is one of our most precious resources. Keeping our eyes
healthy is important to the quality and enjoyment of life. If you
are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, there are many
options available to free you from corrective glasses and contacts.
LASIK
LASIK is an acronym for “laser-assisted intrastromal in-situ
keratomileusis,” which basically means, “to shape the cornea using
a laser.” Vision is corrected so that light rays focus more precisely
on the retina, thereby reducing or eliminating refractive errors
such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. As an
effective outpatient procedure, LASIK can offer you more freedom
by reducing your dependence on corrective lenses.
Our highly-experienced LASIK physician, Douglas Katsev, MD,
utilizes the most advanced LASIK systems available for delivering
safe, comfortable, effective vision correction. Dr. Katsev
performs the latest advances in LASIK technology including:
CustomVue This WaveScan Wavefront System analyzes
the unique characteristics of your eye, and delivers a
high-precision treatment plan that it has custom-tailored
for each of your eyes. It transfers the data directly to a
STAR S4 Excimer Laser. This combination of WaveScan
plus STAR S4 is known as CustomVue. The procedure
typically takes just seconds, and for most people it is
painless. Results are noticeable immediately, with vision
continuing to improve over the next few days. FDA
research shows that 98% of CustomVue patients have
achieved 20/20 vision within a year after surgery.
IntraLase Using the computer-guided precision of this
bladeless laser, the surgeon is able to achieve far more
precise results than would be possible with an ordinary
hand-held microkeratome blade. The micron-level
accuracy of IntraLase helps make every procedure more
predictable. Over 90% of patients using this treatment
are seeing 20/20 at their follow-up exam. (Your result
will depend on your refractive error before surgery.)
With this dynamic combination of treatments, you can be
confident of receiving the safest and most accurate LASIK
available anywhere on the Central Coast.
Is LASIK right for me?
In general, the ideal patient is over 18 years of age and has
healthy corneas. However, our Laser Eye Care Center only
performs the LASIK procedures on patients who are at least 20
years of age. Patients must not have had a significant increase in
their glasses or contact lenses during the last 12 months. People
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SansumClinic.org
with particular medical conditions or pregnant or nursing
women may not be good patients.
The choice to have LASIK is a personal and significant one.
It is important that you have practical and realistic expectations.
Rather than rely on hopes and misconceptions, your decision
should be based on facts. The intent of LASIK is to maximize
your freedom and minimize your dependence on corrective
lenses. LASIK does not always produce 20/20 or even 20/40
vision. Aging of the eye (presbyopia), which normally occurs
around age 40, cannot be corrected. In reality, patients over
40 who obtain improved distance vision with LASIK may find
they still need reading glasses. The doctor can provide you
with additional information that will assist you in making an
informed decision.
Dr. Douglas Katsev is a board-certified ophthalmologist.
He trained in cornea refractive surgery at the prestigious Jules
Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, received his bachelor’s degree
with honors (summa cum laude) from St. Louis University in
Missouri, and received his medical degree with honors (cum
laude) from Emory University in Atlanta. He completed
residency at Bethesda Eye Institute, followed by a fellowship
in cornea and external disease at
the UCLA Jules Stein Institute.
Dr. Katsev is a member of the SEE
International. He has been practicing
ophthalmology at Sansum Clinic
since 1990.
Douglas A. Katsev, MD
As a noted refractive surgeon, the
doctor specializes in corneal surgery,
including corneal transplants and
state-of-the-art LASIK procedures
for treating nearsightedness,
farsightedness and astigmatism.
For questions about these and other vision improvement
options, please call our Laser Eye Care Center at
(805) 681-8951. Dr. Katsev will provide detailed information
about the potential risks and benefits, and help you decide
which alternatives are right for you.
You can enjoy a busy, active lifestyle unencumbered by
traditional corrective eyewear.
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Sansum Clinic is an independent
nonprofit healthcare organization
providing the full spectrum of
quality healthcare in our community.
10/09
P.O. Box 1200
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
highlights FAll 2009
Kurt N. Ransohoff, MD
Chief Executive Officer
President and Medical Director
Paul R. Jaconette
Executive Vice President
Chief Administrative Officer
Dru A. Hartley
Director of Philanthropy
Sansum Clinic
Corporate Office
470 South Patterson Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 681-7700
www.sansumclinic.org
Nancy Gong
Director of Marketing
Editor
Mark Ortgies
Marketing Manager
209
Christopher Williams
Marketing Consultant
A nonprofit organization
All gifts are tax-deductible
to the extent allowed by law.
Tax ID #: 95-6419205
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