Erie County – Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program

Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PDF) is a six-week educational program designed to provide you with the tools you need to take care of yourself.

You will learn to:

  • Reduce stress
  • Improve self-confidence
  • Better communicate your feelings
  • Balance your life
  • Increase your ability to make tough decisions
  • Locate helpful resources

The program consists of six, 2 ½ hour class sessions held weekly. Pre-registration is required.

Additional classes are being scheduled. For more information, or to register, contact:

Erie County Department of Senior Services at (716) 858-8526 or e-mail: caregiver@erie.gov

Date:       Tuesday Afternoons

November 6th – December 11th 2018

Time:        1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Location:  Love Inc. Office

62 E. Main St., Springville, NY 14141

Cost:        $25.00*         (includes a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook)

*Full course cost is covered for Independent Health and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of WNY members.

Class listing is also on our website at: www2.erie.gov/seniorservices

Co-sponsored by The University at Buffalo, School of Public Health and Health Professions and the Erie County Caregiver Coalition.

 

Springville Kiwanis and the Kiwanis Aktion Club Deliver Decorations for Halloween to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital

Margaret Chapman and Kelsey Clark (pictured) of the Springville Kiwanis presented an assortment of Halloween decorations for Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s acute care and emergency depa   rtment patients on October 23. These crafts were assembled by the Kiwanis Aktion Club, a service leadership program for adults with disabilities.

Internationally, there are more than 12,000 members. Each club is led by members and has programs and resources designed to help adults with disabilities get the most out of the experience.

There are adult volunteers and staff who support each club’s success at the local, regional and international levels. Chapman and Clark are volunteers with the local Aktion chapter, which draws from Eden, Gowanda, North Collins, Springville, Arcade, Cattaraugus, East Concord, Holland and Glenwood. Their group of 51 members put together these crafts as a service project to brighten the spirits of hospital patients during the Halloween season. For more information about the Kiwanis or its Aktion Club, please contact Margaret Chapman at pfc8488@gmail.com or (716-697-4631).

National Physical Therapy Month for BCH and JBR in October

The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Physical Therapy Department has seen some changes this year. The retirement of Mary Lou Wright after 43 years shifted former assistant manager Emily King into the lead role in April 2018.

By June, Jessica Judware joined the PT team to fill the assistant director position. That solidified the four-person group that guides inpatients and outpatients through physical therapy evaluations and treatments. Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) Sherry Stevens and Administrative Assistant Ronalyn Kassel work side by side with King and Judware to work with patients to build their strength, dexterity, balance and in some cases, speed.

Physical therapy patients are a varied bunch. Some make one visit to PT, others are seen for a much longer time period. Regardless of the ailment or injury, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s Physical Therapy Department is prepared to handle strains, pains, recoveries from surgeries and illness, balance issues and more.

“Many patients and providers don’t realize that vestibular therapy is within a physical therapist’s scope of practice,” said King. “That means we can work with patients to abate dizziness, sometimes in just one or two treatments.”

At the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home, another team of four works as part of an interdisciplinary team to coordinate an effective rehabilitation program. This program, unlike others in the region, offers services seven days a week. The goal for JBR: help patients and residents achieve their goals and return safely to the community.

“Our team provides a bridge from hospital to home,” said Troy Flanagan, director. “We play a very important role in restoring function, maintaining function and preventing declines to allow client to be able to function at a maximum practicable level, which carries over to improving quality of life.”

Physical Therapists at JBR include Flanagan, Assistant Director Mary Kate Bockhahn, Nancy Stang and Danielle Krotz.

“It is rewarding to see the smile on patients’ faces when they meet their goals and return home or do something they never thought they could do again,” Flanagan continued. “We have an impact on their life.”

October is National Physical Therapy Month, recognizing the important role that PT plays in relieving pain, increasing mobility and improving quality of life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is a quickly growing field, with about 240,000 PT positions in the United States. We are fortunate to have eight of them here at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home.

 

maurices of Springville Basket Raffle

The employees at maurices of Springville coordinated a basket raffle to support the BCH Foundation and our mammography services as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Baskets are on display in the BCH lobby until Friday, October 26 around noon. The drawing will take place at maurices on October 29 after 5 p.m.

In addition to the baskets on display, MRC Disposal of Springville has offered local delivery of a 10-foot dumpster (value, $350). Those blue tickets are $10 each. All other baskets are $2 for 3 tickets or $5 for 10 tickets. Purchase at the BCH front desk.

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Adds Dr. Witmer to Hospitalist Team

Dr. Elvin WitmerBertrand Chaffee Hospital is pleased to announce that Elvin Witmer, MD will be joining the BCH Medical Staff as a hospitalist, caring for patients in the acute care department.

Dr. Witmer has established a nearly 30-year career in medicine. He grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio, and earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University. His career took him across the country to 18 different states, gaining experience in emergency medicine, ambulatory care, sports medicine and hospitalist programs.

For the past dozen years he has worked in the hospitalist field with the Catholic Health System of Buffalo and at Mercy Hospital.

“Dr. Witmer brings a wealth of experience to our hospitalist team and will be a great asset to our medical program,” said CEO Nils Gunnersen. “We continue to build and strengthen our clinical services to improve the quality of care while keeping healthcare local.”

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Witmer to his new role and to our community.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is sharing this reminder to the residents in its service area, from Gowanda to Bliss and Colden to Ellicottville, that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Last October, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital converted from digital mammography system to 3D mammography (digital tomography) thanks to funding from the New York Statewide Healthcare Facility Transformation Program. With 3D mammography, a series of images are taken to create a three-dimensional picture that has more detail and definition.

The American College of Radiology recommends annual mammography screenings for women between the ages of 40 and 74 along with clinical breast exams. Ask your primary care physician or gynecologist about a screening schedule that is right for you based on family history and other risk factors. When breast cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, the treatment options and chances of survival are much greater.

3D mammography is available on weekdays, with early morning and evening hours. Call (716) 592-8169 for an appointment.

Mercy Flight Adds Bell 429 Helicopters to Its Fleet

Dozens of guests and wellwishers joined Mercy Flight WNY and Mercy EMS on Thursday, September 20 to welcome the arrival of a new Bell 429 helicopter. This aircraft will be stationed in Springville at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital as part of a USDA Rural Development program.

Mercy Flight has been a partner in local emergency medical care with Bertrand Chaffee Hospital since its inception 37 years ago. Former BCH Director of Patient Care Services Darlene Schrantz, RN, Mercy Flight’s “first flight nurse” and mother of its first transport patient, was on hand to congratulate the Mercy Flight team.

BCH Board and BCH Foundation board member Stan Handzlik was on hand to deliver a dedication and blessing. He also shared this video of the event.

 

MercyFlight WNY brings a new Bell 429 to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital from Stan Handzlik on Vimeo

 

.

BCH Adds Two Providers to Primary Care Center

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital has added two new providers to its Primary Care Center in Springville. Daniel Karstedt, PA and Kenneth Dabolt, PA will start seeing patients this summer.

Daniel Karstedt, PA specializes in family medicine and earned his master’s degree from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Penn. Prior to attending school for his physician assistant training, he spent four years at Mercyhurst where he earned a bachelor’s of science in biology. Karstedt is originally from Eden and is a graduate of Eden Jr./Sr. High School. Throughout his clinical year, he gained experience in primary care and has a particular interest in dermatology and sports medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

“I hope to establish healthy long-term relationships with my patients. I am excited to provide accessible health care to those in our rural community as I grew up and reside in a small town and understand the importance of keeping health care close to home,” said Karstedt.  “I believe the close-knit community at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital will provide a very rewarding experience as a health care provider.”

Kenneth Dabolt is a resident of Sardinia and earned his physician assistant degree from Daemen College. His clinical rotations included ob/gyn, emergency medicine, dermatology, plastic surgery, general surgery and pediatrics. He is a member of the Western New York Physician Assistant Association and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

“I grew up in this area and I’m proud to be able to practice medicine in my hometown,” said Dabolt. “Primary care visits are an essential way for patients to maintain their good health, and I’m looking forward to contributing to better health outcomes in our region.”

CEO Nils Gunnersen noted that while many rural healthcare facilities are challenged in finding primary care providers, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital has been fortunate in that regard since opening its practice in 2010. “The talented physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners that we have recruited to Springville believe, as we do, in the value of rural healthcare.” The BCH Primary Care Center is accepting new patients and all major insurances. Call (716) 592-8140 for an appointment.

 

BCH Foundation News from July Meeting

The BCH Foundation held its quarterly meeting on Monday, July 9, with a full slate of business items.

The board welcomed Judi White of Springville as its newest member. White has lived in Springville for more than 25 years, and has been an active member of the BCH Women’s Association and part of their activities.

News about the grant projects that will be supported through Foundation funds will be announced throughout the rest of the summer. The major requests that were funded included renovation of the second floor acute care nurses’ station based on proceeds from the Garden Party in May. Other projects involve renovation of the kitchenettes on the west and east wings of the Jennie B., and the purchase of specialized equipment for the Emergency Department.