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Sheila White of Sentara Obici Hospital Food Services signs her name to the beam.

Network: July 2009

Sentara Obici Hospital “Tops Out” New Bed Tower
Completion of the steel structure topping the new bed tower construction project at Sentara Obici Hospital was commemorated on May 29. The topping out celebration is a traditional event held by construction crews once the steel frame of a new building is complete. The final uppermost steel beam was set in place with construction workers, Sentara Obici employees, physicians and volunteers looking on as the beam displaying their names was raised. Sentara Obici Hospital will move from 140 inpatient care beds to 168 beds at its completion. All rooms will be private in the 66,310-square-foot expansion. Half of the rooms will be dedicated to orthopedic patients and the remainder will increase the medical-surgical bed availability. The $22.4 million project is on schedule for completion in summer 2010. Read the release.

Optima Hits Milestone with Commonwealth Contract
Optima Health has been awarded a multi-year contract beginning July 1, 2009,  to operate a pilot project with the Commonwealth of Virginia that offers state employees in specific Hampton Roads zip codes targeted health, prevention and clinical care service programs aimed at developing a healthier state workforce. The project will allow earlier disease intervention by identifying persons at risk of serious illness while enabling state employees to make more informed health care decisions. About 17,000 state employees and family members are part of the initiative, called COVA Connect. In addition to having healthier employees and reducing absenteeism, the program also should impact overall health care costs.

"Optima Health is excited to partner with the Commonwealth in an effort to improve the health of its employees through this pilot project and looks forward to building lasting relationships with our fellow Virginians," said Michael M. Dudley, Optima's president and CEO. This contract is a significant milestone in Optima’s history and comes at a particularly poignant time as we celebrate our 25th anniversary of serving Virginians. This will push our membership to approximately 410,000. Learn more about Optima Health.  

Introducing the Sentara Advanced Urology Center
On June 1, Sentara introduced the Sentara Advanced Urology Center. Located on the campus of Sentara CarePlex Hospital, the center will specialize in the diagnosis and care of prostate cancer and incontinence solutions, as well as general urology, female urology, kidney stone disease, noncancerous prostate disease and other urologic cancers. Urology of Virginia’s board-certified urologists, part of Sentara Medical Group, will include Drs. Page, Sanders and Lasater, as well as sub-specialist Drs. Fabrizio, Lance, Given and McCammon offering patients comprehensive urology care, in addition to the latest clinical trials and leading-edge research. For more information, call (757) 736-8500 or visit Sentara Advanced Urology Center online. 

(L-R) The Grassfield Therapy staff: Tonia Burke, DPT, CERT. MDT, Anne McKim, MSEd, ATC, Ruth Karl, operations coordinator, Becky Riley, DPT.

Grassfield Therapy Center Opens in Chesapeake
Sentara has opened its newest therapy center, Grassfield Therapy Center in Chesapeake, expanding the Sentara Rehabilitation Network. A physical therapist specially certified in McKenzie spine therapy, an athletic trainer and support team offer appointments Monday through Friday beginning at 8 a.m., with convenient evening hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Located directly across from Grassfield High School, the center offers a full range of physical therapy services including geriatric rehabilitation and orthopedic, sports medicine and athletic training. People who are planning or recovering from surgery; suffering from neck, shoulder and back pain; or experiencing limited mobility may benefit from the expert skills of Sentara physical therapists.

Even before Grassfield Therapy Center’s official opening, the center had patients signed up, and 68-year-old Pat MacCauley was one of them. “Actually, I was their first patient,” says MacCauley who is suffering from a frozen shoulder. The staff at Grassfield Therapy Center is helping patients decrease pain and quickly return to their optimal level of activity. Among the advanced techniques and equipment at the center are electrical and neuro-muscular stimulation, state-of-the-art decompression equipment used to relieve tension of back and neck muscles, and strengthening equipment used to increase knee and shoulder range of motion. Read more about the Sentara Rehabilitation Network.

Optima Rebrands Health and Prevention Services
Optima Health has created a new name and fresh strategy to present health and prevention services to members called MyLife MyPlan. Optima has more than 30 different programs, services and tools designed to assist members in getting the most out of their health plan benefits. The strategy will help streamline the materials and online resources to better organize, clearly communicate, and educate members on these programs and services. The programs and services are divided into six sections: Getting Started, Staying Healthy, Improving Health, Saving More, Managing Meds, and Partners in Pregnancy. Optima anticipates members taking charge of their own health care and using these tools to do just that. The rebranding will bring together all member materials with a consistent look while adding new electronic formats. Read more about MyLife MyPlan.

Sentara Hosts Health Fairs and Screenings
In May, Sentara hosted numerous marketing events, including health screenings and health fairs throughout the area, designed to increase exposure to the newest Sentara services and facilities. Here is a look at just a few of the events that are helping community members improve their health. 

-- On May 29th, 20 women participated in free bone density heel screenings at the Advanced Imaging Center in Williamsburg. Tours of the facility were also provided. The screenings provide a good indication of a person’s bone health, as the bone in the heel is similar to that found in the spine and hip.

Denise Baylous, RN, flight nurse, Sentara Nightingale Air Ambulance, provides a tour to a festival participant.

-- On May 23-24th, Sentara participated in the 26th annual Pungo Strawberry Festival in Virginia Beach. More than 120,000 attended the event from Hampton Roads and North Carolina. Sentara provided information about Sentara Princess Anne, and Medical Transport provided more than 200 free bike helmets for kids, and 50+ blood pressure screenings for adults. Nightingale Air Ambulance conducted its annual visit to the festival.

-- On May 20th, 33 people participated in a screening at the Sentara Obici Hospital Sleep Center. Of those who attended, 24 people scheduled follow up appointments with Dr. Stephen Coleman. 

-- On May 16th, Sentara participated in the City of Virginia Beach public school employee wellness day event at Redwing Park. More than 1,790 employees and their families attended the event. Optima Health and Preventive Services screened 134 individuals for total cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. Sentara provided information on Sentara Princess Anne, offered physician meet and greets, and provided more than 189 foot screens and skin cancer checks.

Sentara Obici Hospital Orthopedic Health Expo

-- On May 14th, more than 53 people participated in a free orthopedic health expo at Sentara Obici Hospital. Orthopedic surgeons provided information about the latest in joint replacements. Physical therapists and home health representatives answered questions. Plans for the new orthopedic inpatient care – which will open in early 2010, were also on hand.

-- On May 12th, 75 people attended a community health fair at Sentara Belle Harbour. Attendees got a chance to participate in balance assessment, blood pressure checks, sleep assessment, vision and hearing vision checks.

Sentara employees and their families participated in a 1 mile run/walk.

-- On May 9th, Sentara participated in Health Prevention Lifestyle Event at Norfolk Botanical Garden. More than 2,600 Sentara employees, community members and their families attended the event. Optima Health and Preventive Services offered 260 blood pressure, total cholesterol and body mass index screens. Of those screened individuals with high risk factors received information about lifestyle changes to decrease their risks for heart disease, diabetes hypertension and certain cancers, and were referred to their primary care physicians. Sentara provided information on Sentara Princess Anne, offered physician meet and greets, and provided more than 203 foot and skin cancer checks. Get information on upcoming classes, screenings and events.



New Advanced Imaging Center Opens in Williamsburg
The first Upper Peninsula patients are experiencing some of the area’s most comprehensive and technologically advanced outpatient imaging capabilities with the debut of the Advanced Imaging Center - Williamsburg. The Advanced Imaging Center - Williamsburg combines advanced technology, specially trained staff and physicians, and convenience to offer patients quality care in a unique outpatient setting. The speed and precision of the 40-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner - one of the industry’s fastest imaging tools-can scan head to toe in seconds offering detailed images to doctors in the region. From bone to soft tissue and blood vessels, this scanner produces precise images used to quickly diagnose cancer, heart disease, stroke, infectious diseases, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders. Advanced imaging at this center includes full field digital mammography with interpretation by the Peninsula’s only fellowship trained mammographers who are specialized in breast imaging and practice exclusively at Sentara centers. Other imaging capabilities include ultrasound, bone densitometry, and digital X-rays. A patient lounge offers wireless computer capabilities providing portals for personal laptop use. For more information call 757-984-1241 or visit the center online.