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(L-R) Doris Beck, the 100,000th patient, is pictured with Joani Brough, clinical director for Sentara Princess Anne Health Campus.

Network: May 2009

Emergency Department Sees 100,000th Patient
The free-standing Emergency Department at Sentara Princess Anne Health Campus, which opened in September of 2006, saw its 100,000th patient recently, a milestone worth noting. Congratulations to the staff at Sentara Princess Anne. Work on Sentara Princess Anne Hospital is proceeding.

Spanish-speaking Optima Members Always Supported
Christine Martinez, a patient services coordinator in Health Care Services, Optima, is always willing to help a coworker if he or she receives a call from a Spanish-speaking member who is having difficulty understanding the case manager. Her friendly personality and smile shine through, even over the phone. Martinez, performs this service in an unofficial capacity as Spanish-speaking members are generally referred to the translation line. A little more than seven percent of the Optima membership is Spanish-speaking, which is comparable to national averages. These individuals can access a new Spanish version of the Member Guide by contacting Member Services.

May Prevention Garden Party: A HealthStyle Festival
Healthy living is the focus of Prevention magazine’s first "Prevention Garden Party: A HealthStyle Festival" on Saturday, May 9, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Norfolk Botanical Garden. Optima Health is the health sponsor and will conduct health screenings. Sentara will hold a 1K Run & Fun Walk for employees at 8:00 a.m.  Learn more about the event, at Sentara's Web site  or Optima's Web site. Read more about the garden party in Network.

Topping Out Ceremony Held
A topping out ceremony was held on March 27 for the Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex. Anticipated to open in early 2010, it will be the region’s only dedicated orthopedic hospital. The nearly 55,000 square-foot, two-story addition, will provide patients access to the full complement of orthopedic services from pre-habilitation and surgery to rehabilitation and home care services. Specialized surgical orthopedic care will be provided through board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians from the largest orthopedic group on the Peninsula, Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates. Representing years of planning and an estimated $20 million investment to address increased need for orthopedic services among rapidly aging Peninsula residents, the Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex will be staffed by a dedicated orthopedic team of doctors, nurses, operating room staff and multidisciplinary clinicians caring exclusively for orthopedic patients. The staff will pursue specialized orthopedic credentialing, and the hospital will seek additional quality orthopedic certifications.

New Product Helps Employers Control Cost
In March, Optima Health launched Optima Design coupled with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) as a new integrated product in its suite of Consumer Directed Health Plans (CHDPs). Key benefits that the product offers to employers are its simplicity of a fully integrated health plan and HRA funding option combined with the flexibility employers need to design the HRA to achieve their goals. Optima Design is a long-term solution to better manage healthcare costs. Employers determine the financial promise to pay amount and those out-of-pocket expenses to be covered. There are eight core benefit plans to incent employees to manage their healthcare dollars with lower premiums and lower future increases in premiums. In early 2008, Optima Health introduced its first installment in CDHPs, Optima Equity, which are IRS qualified high deductible health plans designed to be coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA and an HRA have similar features, but differ in how funds are contributed and used for healthcare expenses. Visit Optima Health online.

Emergency Department Renovations Complete
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital has completed renovations of the Emergency Department. The Emergency Department has grown from 28 beds to 40, most of which are now in private rooms. There is a larger, brighter waiting room, a user-friendly ambulance entrance and a new Emergency Medical Services room that facilitates quicker turnarounds for Emergency Medical Services crews.

Optima Lowers Deductibles for Individual Health Plans
With Virginia unemployment rates at 6 percent, Optima Health has responded to market shifts by offering lower plan deductibles on its Individual Health Plans to assist consumers who find themselves unemployed and in need of individual policies. Additionally, Optima has implemented Personal Plan Advisors to help match consumer’s needs with policies that fit his or her budget. Optima will continue to offer four plans; however, there are two new deductible options within two of the plans. These deductibles are much lower than similar traditional plans. Optima Plus and Optima FourSight will now offer $500 and $750 deductibles in addition to the established $1,000 deductible. The Personal Health Advisor is available for individuals shopping for individual health insurance. The goal of the Advisor is to work with callers to analyze individual healthcare spending, discuss plan options, share industry trends, and guide toward a plan that best suits an individual’s current situation. Additionally, callers are offered a free Buyer’s Guide for Individual Health Insurance to help make informed decisions. Visit Optima Health online.

Sentara Hosts Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Business Event
In February, Sentara hosted the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at Sentara BelleHarbour. More than 50 business members from Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Smithfield, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth attended. Tours of the facility were provided by Sentara BelleHarbour staff. Charles Coleman, MD, The Sleep Disorders Center at Sentara BelleHarbour, Timothy Lee, MD, Sentara Obici Occupational Medicine, as well as the Advanced Imaging staff were on hand to provide information to program participants.