2013 News
DECEMBER 2013
Dr. Edwin Heidelberger joins BCH Primary Care Center!
Dr. Edwin Heidelberger began seeing patients in the Primary Care Center in December 2013 and is still accepting new patients.
He obtained his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences concurrent with a Ph.D. in Physiology. After completing a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo he was Board Certified in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine.
A resident of the Springville community for almost 20 years, Dr. Heidelberger has served on Bertrand Chaffee’s Board of Directors and now returns to his rural primary care roots to serve as Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s Vice President of Medical Affairs.
OCTOBER 2013
Welcome James Urgo, FNP
James Urgo, a nurse practioner specializing in Family Practice, began seeing patients in the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Primary Care Center on Monday, October 7th. He welcomes his current patients of Springville Primary Care, and will be collaborating with Dr. Edwin Heidelberger at the Center.
James Urgo, FNP, began his medical career as a paramedic in the 1980’s. He received an Associates of Science in Nursing in 1983 from Trocaire College and began working as a Registered Nurse. In 1998, James completed his Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Daemen College. He then attended D’Youville College and completed his Masters of Science in Nursing and has been practicing as a Family Nurse Practitioner since
2001.
James has been married to his wife Joanne for 34 years. They have 4 children and 3 grandchildren, with one on the way. James enjoys spending time with his family and ministering at a local church in Hamburg.
JUNE 2013
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital becomes an AADE accredited Diabetes Education Site
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, of Springville, NY, was recently named an Accredited Diabetes Education site by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). This will enhance local residents’ access to critical diabetes education services.
Diabetes education is a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. The classes are presented by a team of diabetes educators from various clinical fields.
The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Diabetes Education Team members include Michael Barnett – Doctor of Pharmacy, Elizabeth Cappola – Registered Dietetic Technician, Nancy Fischer – Dietetic Technician, Kathleen Hebdon, RN – Certified Nurse Patient Educator, and Kyle Schwann – Certified Dietician and Nutritionist.
AADE Diabetes Education and Training entails five 2-hour classes; Healthy Eating, Being Active, Monitoring & Reducing Risk Factors, Taking Medications, and Healthy Coping & Problem Solving. In addition, each client is entitled to three hours of individualized nutritional counseling.
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, located at 224 East Main Street, Springville, NY, will be offering diabetes education classes several times throughout the year. The AADE accreditation provides the ability to accept most major insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. Clients can contact the department manager – Kathleen M. Hebdon, at (716) 592-9643 for more information and about how to enroll.
“Our area has needed formalized diabetes education for some time and now Bertrand Chaffee Hospital can provide a nationally recognized program for our residents. I am really excited to be part of this positive addition to healthcare services in Western New York.” says Hebdon
Leslie E. Kolb, RN, BSN, MBA, Program Director, Diabetes Education Accreditation Program states “Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is exactly the type of program we envisioned when we set up our accreditation program in 2009.”
MAY 2013
On May 30th 2013 the 1st Annual Garden Party was held at the Springville Country Club
The Thursday before, it was snowing, The Thursday after, a torrential rain storm. But on Thursday May 30th, the sun was shining over the first annual Garden Party to benefit the exterior renovation project and Memorial Garden at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital.
Nearly 200 people attended the event at the Springville Country Club, and enjoyed the sounds of the Springville Jazz Orchestra while raising $12,000 for our Hospital and Nursing Home.
“The Memorial Garden concept was developed while we are in the process of renovating the parking lot and updating the exterior of the hospital,” said Foundation Board President William King. “We lost two very special people during 2012, 20-year Board member Craig Wiede, and longtime devoted physician Richard Nowak. This is an admirable way to remember them, and to remember those who have served this hospital well.”
Construction for the Memorial Garden, which will be highlighting the front entrance area of the hospital parking and entrance, will begin in the next few weeks. The goal is to have the first phase of the project completed in August.
The Memorial Garden has been crafted by landscape designer Connie Lydon, who has family ties in the Springville area. Lydon, and her father George Schichtel, have worked with hospital administration to create a comfortable and lasting tribute.
There were several local sponsors for the Garden Party, and additional benefactors have come forward since the event. Future plans also include opportunities to purchase memory stones for the memorial walls and an expansion into the entrance area of the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home.
APRIL 2013
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Named as Outstanding Organization of the Year by the Springville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Springville Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual gala on April 27, to recognize Grover Riefler as the citizen of the year, Oasis Bed and Breakfast as the outstanding business of the year and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital as the organization of the year. Nils Gunnersen, CEO of Bertrand Chaffee Hospital stated as he received the award “As an organization, the hospital is a sum of many parts, recognizing members of his staff and the board of directors, as individuals who have helped the hospital along the way. We offer lots of services with the hope and the intent that the community supports us being here. We are part of the community and hope they take advantage of us as a resource.” Nils continued by saying that he is pleased to work with so many wonderful people to keep the hospital open for Springville and the surrounding community.
Bertrand Chaffee Primary Care Center Awarded New Designation from NCQA
Effective April 22, 2013 the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognized the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Primary Care Center as a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) – Level 3, which is the highest designation that can be awarded. “The process the Bertrand Chaffee Primary Care Center team has worked through to achieve this prestigious award was very important to our community. We have raised the bar for Primary Care.” says Darlene Schrantz, Director of Patient Care Services.
Here are some of the characteristics of a Patient Centered Medical Home:
A Patient Centered Medical Home is not a building, an office or a house. It is a program for delivering care that places the patient at the center of everything we do. A Patient Centered Medical Home integrates patients as active participants in their own health and well-being. Patients are cared for by a physician who leads the medical team that coordinates all aspects of preventive, acute and chronic care need of patients. Using Evidence Based Guidelines we are able to focus on the care and services to help patients achieve their own goals. With combination and patient involvement we work together to make decisions that are best for the patients.
Coordinating Care for specific disease processes will decrease the time patients spend in hospitals. It will also help cut down on patients being readmitted to hospitals by closely following and monitoring patients after their visits to hospitals or Emergency Rooms. Another part of the PCMH is to educate the patients and hold them accountable for their own health care. By getting the patients more involved, it creates a better provider/patient relationship.
As part of the PCMH we encourage patients to communicate with their clinical team via electronic messaging. We have by implemented a Patient Portal through our electronic health record that allows patients to reach out to their clinical staff for refills, request appointments and referrals as well as, view test results. It can be much more convenient for the patient and it also increases the ability to communicate with our staff.
This is a great accomplishment for Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and its Primary Care Center that will advance the health of our community!