$25,000 Gift to Help Martin Memorial Enhance Nursing Education

As a former nurse, Helen Thomas recognized the critical role nursing education plays in providing exceptional health care.

As a result, Martin Memorial recently received a $25,000 grant from the William and Helen Thomas Charitable Trust. The funds will be used to support nursing education and related projects as Martin Memorial works toward advancing the clinical and leadership role of nursing at the bedside.

“Helen Thomas understood that nurses play a critical role in the health care of the community,” said Bonney A. Johnson, vice president and senior trust officer for U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, which serves as a trustee. “The Thomases recognized that Martin Memorial is an institution that gives back to the community and they wanted to help the health system continue to provide access to high-quality care.”

(Pictured in the photo, Bonney Johnson [far right] presents a check to Karen Ripper, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Martin Memorial, nurse Valerie Kuhn; Sharon Kinane, magnet recognition coordinator for Martin Memorial; and nurse Tammy Samanka.)

Support from the William and Helen Thomas Charitable Trust will assist nurses at Martin Memorial by providing financial support in their efforts to achieve advanced nursing certifications and continued educational advancement. It will also assist senior nursing staff in providing mentoring and one-on-one coaching to newer nurses that will help them build confidence and develop bedside leadership skills.

“We are extremely grateful to the William and Helen Thomas Charitable Trust for assisting us in enhancing the education and training of our nursing staff,” said Karen Ripper, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Martin Memorial. “This investment in nurses will help us continue to provide extraordinary health care to the community.”

The William and Helen Thomas Charitable Trust was created to maintain the long-time Stuart residents’ commitment to philanthropy and giving back to the community. Prior to his death in 2001, William Thomas was a salesman for ARCO Company and served as Board Chairman of Enabling Technologies Braille Embossers and Printers. Before her death in 2005, Helen Thomas worked as a nurse and was a staunch supporter of medical education. Since 2001, the trust has provided approximately $3 million to local charities, primarily in St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties.

Martin Memorial Again Named a Primary Stroke Center by Joint Commission

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and one of the most common causes of disability. However, the damage can often be minimized if medical care is provided quickly by highly trained clinical staff.

To help ensure patients who suffer from stroke receive the best treatment possible, Martin Memorial recently retained certification as a primary stroke center. Martin Memorial was surveyed this fall by The Joint Commission – an organization that evaluates and accredits health care providers – and recently received official notification that it had again achieved certification.

The Joint Commission certifies hospitals that meet national standards and performance measurement expectations. The commission’s certification program was developed along with the American Stroke Association.

Martin Memorial initially received certification in November 2007. To retain certification, hospitals are surveyed on site every two years.

“Stroke patients who are cared for in a primary stroke center have better outcomes with less variation in care, so there are less debilitating after-effects,” said Jason Stabley, DO, medical director of neuroscience services at Martin Memorial. “This program has been a tremendous benefit for the community, providing not only exceptional acute-care treatment, but also valuable information about stroke prevention and the need to seek immediate medical care when a stroke occurs. Those are valuable tools in mitigating the damage of stroke.”

That includes understanding risk factors that can lead to stroke, as well as knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke. While some risk factors – such as age, family history, race, or gender – can’t be controlled, others can. Among those risk factors are high blood pressure or other cardiovascular diseases, cigarette smoking, diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol.

And because there is a limited window of opportunity to provide effective medical treatment, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke. The American Stroke Association lists these five signs that someone is having a stroke:

· Sudden numbness or weakness – especially on one side of the body – of the face, arms or legs
· Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
· Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
· Sudden loss of balance, dizziness or trouble walking
· Sudden severe headaches with no known cause or origin

State Grants Martin Memorial Permission to Build New 80-Bed Hospital in Tradition

Martin Memorial received a final order from the state to build an 80-bed hospital in the Tradition development of west Port St. Lucie.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration accepted an administrative law judge’s recommendation to approve the project and issued a final order denying exceptions by Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and St. Lucie Medical Center, the two HCA, Inc.-owned hospitals in St. Lucie County.

“This is one more critical step toward a much-needed hospital becoming a reality for residents of western St. Lucie County,” said Mark E. Robitaille, president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. “We have maintained for many years that there is a critical need for health care services in this area. More importantly, the community told us there was a need and we are working hard to meet that need.”

Martin Memorial, which received the final order on Dec. 1, will begin to move forward with planning pending any further appeals by the HCA hospitals to an appellate court. The design and construction phase of building the new hospital is expected to take several years.

In June 2007, Martin Memorial received preliminary approval from AHCA to build the hospital on 20 acres that the health system previously purchased in Tradition. The approval was challenged to an administrative hearing by the HCA hospitals and the case for the CON was presented before Administrative Law Judge J.D. Parrish in a month-long hearing in November 2008. On July 31, 2009 Judge Parrish rendered a recommended order upholding the preliminary approval. The agency accepted the judge’s recommendation in its final order.

Ultimately, the state concluded that rapid population growth in St. Lucie County over the past five years – particularly in west Port St. Lucie – as well as demonstrated access challenges in the region revealed a vital need for the hospital.

Martin Memorial has already seen that need for medical services after opening a free-standing emergency department in St. Lucie West. Since the Emergency Center opened its doors on Sept. 1, it has seen more than 2,000 patients per month, exceeding projections for the facility.

Support for the hospital has come from many areas of the community, including state legislators, local government officials, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, VGTI Florida, Mann Research Center, doctors and nurses, and more than 10,000 area residents who submitted e-mails and letters.

Many individuals submitted personal testimonials sharing their concern about the lack of convenient access to a hospital – particularly in times of emergency. Once opened, the hospital will create more than 400 jobs with an average salary of more than $53,000, and the capital investment will exceed $100 million, which will have a profoundly positive impact on the local economy.

Martin Memorial is also developing partnerships with the life sciences organizations coming to the area. In November, the health system announced it is participating in a flu research study with VGTI Florida. The proposed hospital will be built near Torrey Pines’ current facility in Tradition, and will be near the facility VGTI Florida is planning to build.

Expecting Holiday Weight Gain? Use These Tips to Eat Smarter, Avoid Adding Pounds

It’s hard to believe but the holidays are upon us! It’s a time for celebration and joy; and if we’re not careful, extra holiday pounds to carry around.

All too often we get caught up in the food and drink and forget that it’s about sharing with friends and family. So this year make it about fun and celebrate the reason for the season.

In fact, the holiday season does not need to be a disaster in the making. If you plan it right you might even lose some weight. So it’s important to start off on the right foot by not skipping meals or partying hungry. Breakfast is key to success, so make sure you eat a meal that will keep you feeling full and satisfied, such as an omelet and some whole wheat toast.

Planning is your No. 1 tool. If you plan ahead you can balance out your meals and compensate for the extra party calories. This way, you’ll be conscious and mindful of your choices. Remind yourself that you don’t have to try it all: choose those foods that are your favorite and holiday specific, and leave those that you can eat all year round. After all, we have many other occasions to party all year long.

Make a plan to bring healthy options such as shrimp or vegetables as a low-calorie appetizer or a fruit crisp for dessert. If you’re serving at your house, a colorful array of vegetables and fruit makes a great centerpiece!

Remember that exercise is an essential component to balance out those extra calories and keep your stress levels at bay. Schedule it in your calendar and make it a priority to include in your day.

So this holiday season change your mindset by planning ahead and remember the reason for the season. Enjoy the holidays!

--Beth St.Louis, MS, RD, LDN
Program Dietitian
Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing