News from Port Huron Hospital

Temporary restricted visitor guidelines lifted at Port Huron Hospital

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

The temporary visitor guidelines that Port Huron Hospital had in place during influenza season have been lifted and general visitor guidelines are now in effect.

Port Huron Hospital and Blue Water YMCA present "Exercise and Diabetes"

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Port Huron Hospital and Blue Water YMCA present
“Exercise and Diabetes”

It started with a question from a teenager, says Port Huron Hospital Diabetes Educator Joan Lundblad, RN, BSN, CDE. “One of our teens, a Port Huron Northern High School student, came to me for advice. She wanted to run a marathon and had questions about controlling her blood sugars while exercising.” Joan had been to a presentation by Marathon Runner Bill King and had his card. She gave the teen educational information, but also gave her King’s card. When the opportunity came to work with the Blue Water YMCA on a program about exercise and diabetes, it was easy for the two organizations to identify an ideal speaker. King is a respected marathon runner who also happens to have type 1 diabetes.

The program/workshop, Exercise and Diabetes, will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday, March 13, at the YMCA. “The workshop is intended to help individuals identify the healthy athlete within each of us,” says Denise Brooks, executive director of the Blue Water YMCA. “Participants will be encouraged to identify some type of regular exercise plan,” “We will focus on the need to incorporate an athletic mindset to support our blood glucose levels,” Joan explains, adding that Endocrinologist Sushma Reddy, MD, will also be a presenter during the workshop, speaking on the value of exercising for blood sugar control. Guest speaker Bill King, marathon runner, running coach and member of the Board of the Diabetes and Exercise Sports Association will focus on his experience since he was diagnosed with diabetes in 1984. His appearance and presentation are provided by the Diabetes and Exercise and Sports Association.

The YMCA and the hospital see the workshop as an ideal partnership for both organizations as they work to improve the health of the communities they serve. The workshop will include breakfast, presentations, and a vendor area featuring representative of pharmaceutical companies that produce diabetes products. Cost of the workshop is $5. To register, call Port Huron Hospital HealthAccess locally at 810.989.3199 or toll free at 800.228.1484.

Port Huron Hospital Diabetes Education Program helps adults and children live with diabetes

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Diabetes Education programs help adults and children live with diabetes

Diabetes is a complex disease that requires daily self-management. “This includes making healthy food choices, staying physically active, monitoring your blood sugar and taking medications prescribed by your doctor. It also includes coping with lifestyle changes,” says Tina Parmann (RN, CDE), diabetes educator.

The theme for the 2009 Diabetes Kids Day was Super Heroes. On the wall behind the costumed kids are their drawings of their favorite super heroes.

As part of the Diabetes Wellness Program at Port Huron Hospital, Tina, along with fellow diabetes educator Joan Lundblad (RN, BSN, CDE) and dietitians Valerie Hunger (RD) and Noreen Derer (RD, MS, CDE) conduct educational classes for individuals who have been diagnosed with They also provide individual education and plan special events for children and adults. “We try to be practical as we help people continue to live their lives; working the diabetes into their lifestyle, not the other way around,” says Joan. “Our support groups and special events all support this.” Diabetes Kids Day is held annually in July for kids with diabetes. This is a fun filled day designed to help kids understand what it is like to live with diabetes. The kids are welcome to bring a friend or sibling.

This year’s Kids Day Camp will be held July 30, 2010. Well attended every year, the day is an opportunity for children to be with other kids with diabetes and for their companions to see what life is like for their friends. The hospital recently replaced its monthly pediatric and teen support groups, which met one Saturday a month, with special activities for these kids’ movie “sleepover” day, provide those with diabetes the opportunity to socialize and problem solve with others facing similar problems.

Diabetes Education staff before the 2009 Super Heroes Diabetes Kids Day. Left to right,
dietitian Valerie Hunger and diabetes educators Joan Lundblad and Tina Parmann.

“We involve the teens as mentors in the children’s programs,” says Joan. Kids look up to the teens and there is a circular and emotional attachment that the two age groups get from each other.” The adult diabetes support group continues to meet monthly, with social events including a holiday party and summer picnic held annually. Staff also make presentations throughout the year at schools, events and programs.

They are currently working with the Port Huron Area School District developing a standardized care plan ensuring the safety of children with diabetes while they are at school. The theme for the 2009 Diabetes Kids Day was Super Heroes. On the wall behind the costumed kids are their drawings of their favorite super heroes.

Spirit of Port Huron Award goes to Port Huron Hospital Foundation

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Spirit of Port Huron Award goes to Port Huron Hospital Foundation

The City of Port Huron annually recognizes and honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the city with its Spirit of Port Huron Awards. At the city’s January 25 awards ceremony,
Mayor Pauline Repp presented one of the 2009 awards to Port Huron Hospital Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Bill Butler.

Bill Butler, Chairman

The “Spirit of Port Huron” is an award program that has been established to recognize citizens who have made significant contributions to the City of Port Huron through civic, cultural, brotherhood, economic achievement, youth activity, heroic action, deeds as a good neighbor and lifetime achievement. The Foundation was honored in the civic category. The civic category recognizes a person, business or organization who has significantly contributed time, talent or investment to make Port Huron Hospital a better place to live, work and play. “As president of Port Huron Hospital, I’m very proud that the Port Huron Hospital Foundation has received the Spirit of Port Huron Award,” says Tom DeFauw, hospital president and CEO. “I extend my congratulations and thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who comprise the Board of Directors and many committees of the Foundation, for the time and talent they unselfishly provide to help us improve the health of our communities.” Since 1988, the Port Huron Hospital Foundation has been raising funds for the health, education and enrichment of the community and by sponsoring programs and events benefiting the community. “As a non-profit hospital, Port Huron Hospital is committed to giving back to the community in a number of different ways,” says Tom. “The Port Huron Hospital Foundation not only enables the hospital to fulfill its mission of being a leader in healing and our patients’ partner in their health, but also represents a critical link between our community and the resources that empower individuals to maintain and improve their health.”

Nancy Klemmer, Interim Director

The more than 700 members and volunteers comprising the force behind the Foundation dedicate themselves to fulfilling the community’s health education interests in many ways. During its last fiscal year, the Foundation’s three community health teams identified health concerns in their areas and created programs to help address those issues. In conjunction with the Community Foundation, they collected and distributed many tons of food to area residents and through the back-to-school program provided 660 backpacks with school supplies to area students. Annual Helmet Safety activities encourage the use of helmets as a means of reducing the number of head injuries that occur from participation in all types of wheeled sports. At least thirteen local health screening programs were offered in support of breast, heart, mental and men’s health, in addition to cholesterol management. At a recent men’s health fair 35 of 95 men screened were identified with high risk indicators and were immediately referred for a more detailed medical consultation. “This award reflects the commitment and dedication of our hundreds of volunteers who make a difference everyday in our lives and the lives of others in the community,” says Nancy Klemmer, acting director of the Foundation. “The community programming we do would not be possible without our volunteers.”

New Port Huron Hospital Board Members Reflect Diverse Experiences

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Port Huron Hospital Board of Trustees welcomes three new members to serve a three-year term. The experiences of the newest members reflect the hospital’s commitment to maintaining a local Board of Directors with diverse backgrounds.

“As a local, independent hospital, it’s important to have local trustees to further assure that the interests of the community are represented in the hospital’s mission,” says Port Huron Hospital’s Vice President of Operations, David McEwen.

The following new members reflect local service and strong diversity in the areas of medicine and leadership, finance, and business management.

Bassam H. Nasr, MD, MBA

Dr. Nasr has been practicing in this community since 1988. He specializes in Gastroenterology and Sleep Medicine. In addition, Dr. Nasr has strong business experience and education. He holds a Masters of Business Administration Degree, is a Certified Physician Executive, and is one of the founders of Physician HealthCare Network, P.C.-the area’s largest multi-specialty physician group.

“Physicians are important stakeholders in a hospital, says Dr. Nasr. “As practitioners, they need a local, safe, efficient, and caring environment to treat their patients in a timely manner, and as community members, they depend on the success of the hospital to keep their communities vibrant and healthy.”

Dr. Nasr has served as Chief of Staff at Port Huron Hospital and St. John River District Hospital. He is past president of St. Clair County Medical Society, and is currently an elected member of the Michigan State Medical Society Board of Directors representing physicians in Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties.
“Serving on the hospital’s board of directors is more than contributing time for a worthy cause, says Dr. Nasr, “it is sharing in the responsibility and accountability for the performance and success of this community asset.”

Dr. Nasr and his wife Marcelle have four children. They live in Fort Gratiot.

Michael T. Turnbull, CPA

Mr. Turnbull brings twenty-five years of public accounting experience to the Board of Directors. As president of Port Huron accounting firm, Stewart, Beauvais, & Whipple, PC; Mr. Turnbull works with clients throughout Michigan, specializing in corporate financial reporting, income tax preparation and business consulting.

“I became involved because I believe it is important that our local hospital has local oversight with management decisions. It is important that Port Huron Hospital remains our local hospital; without control from organizations outside our community,” says Mr. Turnbull. “Port Huron Hospital is a valuable community resource and I will use my financial and business expertise to represent our community as a member of the Board.”

Mr. Turnbull currently serves on the Leadership Advisory Council for the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, and is also a board member and Vice President of Finance for the Blue Water Council Boy Scouts. In addition, Mr. Turnbull is active on the board of Marwood Nursing and Rehab and the Port Huron Hospital Finance Committee. Previously, he has served as president of the Marysville Rotary and Treasurer of the Marysville Chamber of Commerce. He also held leadership positions with the Port Huron Hospital Foundation.

He and his wife Debbie have three children and reside in Marysville.

Karl Tomion

Mr. Tomion is a project manager with the Spicer Group, a consulting firm that provides engineering, surveying, and planning services for local governments. Mr. Tomion’s vast experience in local government management includes his positions as past City Manager for the cities of Port Huron, Midland, and Dowagiac.

“As a local, independent hospital, Port Huron Hospital has been a key part of this community’s economy and a dynamic source of employment for a long time,” says Mr. Tomion. “One of my goals is to assist in continuing to make the hospital a strong community asset”.

He has received many professional awards, including the Michigan Local Government Management Association’s highest award recognizing outstanding service in Michigan City management. He was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the State Task Force on Local Government Services and Fiscal Stability.

In addition to the Port Huron Hospital Board, he serves on the Blue Water YMCA Board, St. Clair County Community College Foundation, the City of Port Huron Charter Commission, and is a member of International City Management and Michigan Local Government Management Associations.

He and his wife Denise live in Port Huron, they have raised two children.

Other Board Members are:

Karen Niver, MD, Chairman
Mona Armstrong, Vice-Chairman
John Ogden, Secretary
David C. Whipple, Treasurer
Ronda Ryan
B.R. Reddy, MD
Clare Scheurer, MD
Tim Regan
Franklin Mortimer, II
John V. Brooks, MD
George Stommel
Bashar Samman, MD
R. James Marsh

Port Huron Hospital Physical Therapy Recognized for Clinical Outcomes

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Port Huron Hospital Physical Therapy services were recently recognized for exceeding national, risk-adjusted clinical outcomes for four consecutive quarters.

Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (FOTO) represents a database from nearly three million patients’ experiences with outpatient physical therapy. As an organization, FOTO provides comparative data that allows a physical therapy provider to compare the clinical progress of a patient to the predicted or potential progress for that patient, based on national best practices. The comparison is based on the functional improvement experienced by patients between the first visit and their completion of physical therapy.

For four straight quarters, the progress achieved by Port Huron Hospital’s physical therapy patients exceeded the progress that would have been expected of patients with similar (risk-adjusted) conditions. The findings indicate an increase in the patients’ satisfaction with their treatment. They also indicate that Port Huron Hospital is delivering more value for the time and money spent on physical therapy services. Medicare has considered the FOTO tool as a potential means for “paying for performance.”

In addition to its inpatient Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services, Port Huron Hospital has four outpatient physical therapy centers: at Holland and Pine Grove Avenue in Port Huron, and in the Marysville, Yale and Lexington Community Health Centers. To learn more about Port Huron Hospital Physical Therapy services, click here.

Dr. Bashar Samman continues as Port Huron Hospital Chief of Staff

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Bashar Samman, MD, began his second year as Chief of Port Huron Hospital’s Medical Staff on January 1. Chief-of-Staff Elect is John Brooks, MD, infectious disease specialist with Physician HealthCare Network; and Ponan Dileep Kumar, MD, hospitalist with Physician HealthCare Network, is Secretary-Treasurer.

Dr. Samman is an interventional cardiologist with Cardiology Associates and the Port Huron Heart Center. He earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Damascus in Syria. He completed his residency and graduate training in internal medicine at Franklin Square Hospital in Maryland and in cardiovascular diseases at Roger Williams Hospital in Rhode Island. Board certified in cardiology, Dr. Samman has practiced in the area since 1994. He is a member of the St. Clair County and Michigan State Medical Societies, the American Medical Association and the American College of Cardiology. His term as Chief of Staff is two years.

Section chiefs for 2010 are:

Anesthesia
Cardio-Vascular
Emergency Medicine
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
OB/Gyn
Orthopedic
Pathology
Pediatric
Psychiatry
Radiology
Surgery

H. Singh, MD
V.E. Dencklau, DO
C. Hunt, MD
D. Lambrecht, MD
A. Krishen, MD
A. Hurtubise, MD
T. Lukas, MD
W. Carter, MD
D. Wilhelm, MD
J. Mitchell, DO
F.W. Coop, MD
F. Brettschneider, DO

Giving Back to Our Community

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

For 20 years, the staff of Port Huron Hospital’s HealthAccess has been a trusted local resource for health information and services in the community.

No Butts About It, we’ve got a program to help you quit smoking

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

No Butts About It, we’ve got a program to help you quit smoking

A Helpful Voice for Breast-Feeding Answers

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

A Helpful Voice for Breast-Feeding Answers

Physician channels his love of trains into a holiday tradition at Port Huron Hospital

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

Dr. MacDonald channels his love of trains into a holiday tradition at Port Huron Hospital

Port Huron Hospital expands relationship with American Cancer Society

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Port Huron Hospital expands relationship with American Cancer Society

Port Huron Hospital taking applications for Radiologic Technology School

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Port Huron Hospital School of Radiologic Technology is taking applications until February 1, 2010

Port Huron Hospital 55 Plus offers free Lifeline Installation in November and December

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

During the months of November and December, 2009, Port Huron Hospital 55 Plus will provide free installation of Lifeline

Hospitals Announce New Temporary Visitor Rules

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Beginning today, Friday, November 6, 2009, and until further notice, Port Huron Hospital, St. John River District Hospital and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital are putting in place temporary visitor guidelines designed to slow the spread of all types of flu.

All three hospitals ask for the public’s help in protecting patients by cooperating with these guidelines:

People, who are experiencing flu-like symptoms, should not come to any St. Clair County hospital facility for any reason, except to seek care. This includes not only patients’ loved ones, but those with business reasons for visiting these facilities. Flu-like symptoms include a fever, together with a cough, sore throat, or runny nose.
No visitor, under the age of 18, will be allowed to visit any hospitalized patient. This age group is most susceptible to the H1N1 flu virus, and high rates of illness are being seen in children and teens.
No patient who has been admitted to any hospital or emergency department may have more than two visitors to his/her room at a time. Visitors should be limited to those who are essential to the emotional and physical support of the patient.

Hospitals across the region are implementing new visitor guidelines to slow the spread of flu which has become widespread in Michigan. Patients who are hospitalized are much more likely than the general public to develop severe complications if they catch the flu.

“We recognize it may be inconvenient for patients and their families, but we are asking the public’s help as we implement strategies designed to protect our patients, employees and staff,” says John Brooks, MD, chairman of the Infection Prevention Committee at both Port Huron and St. Joseph Mercy hospitals. “We value our patients’ visitors and families. Individual patient care situations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and any exceptions will be determined by the patient care team.

“The physicians and staff are doing everything we can to keep patients healthy during this flu season. But, the community can help us too,” states Sajjad Saeed, MD, infectious disease specialist on staff at St. John River District Hospital. “We believe the steps we are taking to limit visitors are necessary to protect the health of our patients, staff and the community.”

More information on the new temporary guidelines, and other flu-related topics, is available by going to any of the three hospital web sites: www.porthuronhospital.org; www.stjohn.org; or www.mymercy.us.

More information regarding flu symptoms can be found by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: www.cdc.gov; or the St. Clair County Health Department at: http://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/health/updates.aspx.

News from Port Huron Hospital

Temporary restricted visitor guidelines lifted at Port Huron Hospital

Port Huron Hospital and Blue Water YMCA present "Exercise and Diabetes"

Port Huron Hospital and Blue Water YMCA present “Exercise and Diabetes”

Port Huron Hospital Diabetes Education Program helps adults and children live with diabetes

Diabetes Education programs help adults and children live with diabetes

Spirit of Port Huron Award goes to Port Huron Hospital Foundation

Spirit of Port Huron Award goes to Port Huron Hospital Foundation

New Port Huron Hospital Board Members Reflect Diverse Experiences

Bassam H. Nasr, MD, MBA

Michael T. Turnbull, CPA

Karl Tomion

Other Board Members are:

Port Huron Hospital Physical Therapy Recognized for Clinical Outcomes

Port Huron Hospital Physical Therapy services were recently recognized for exceeding national, risk-adjusted clinical outcomes for four consecutive quarters.

Dr. Bashar Samman continues as Port Huron Hospital Chief of Staff

Giving Back to Our Community

No Butts About It, we’ve got a program to help you quit smoking

A Helpful Voice for Breast-Feeding Answers

Physician channels his love of trains into a holiday tradition at Port Huron Hospital

Port Huron Hospital expands relationship with American Cancer Society

Port Huron Hospital taking applications for Radiologic Technology School

Port Huron Hospital 55 Plus offers free Lifeline Installation in November and December

Hospitals Announce New Temporary Visitor Rules

Port Huron Hospital and Blue Water YMCA present
“Exercise and Diabetes”