Carilion Clinic Adding Third Helicopter to Air Medical Fleet (updated with media coverage)

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

ROANOKE, Va. (2/2/12) Carilion Clinic will add a third helicopter to its fleet of medical aircraft serving southwest and central Virginia and sections of West Virginia and North Carolina.  The helicopter, called Carilion Life-Guard 12, will be based in the Rockbridge County area. Its presence will further extend Carilion’s ability to serve the region, which includes Allegheny County, Bath County, Pocahontas County, Greenbrier County and Lewisburg. Life-Guard 12  will significantly reduce response and transport time, providing fast, efficient critical care air services to those in need.

Life-Guard 12 will join Life-Guard 10 which covers the Roanoke Valley region, and Life-Guard 11, which responds in the New River Valley region from its base at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.

While planning for the expansion, Carilion sought a partner who was best aligned with the organization’s needs and mission and selected Med-Trans Corp. based out of Dallas, Texas.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Carilion Clinic and able to contribute to their team’s continued commitment of caring for critical patients in need of air medical transport.  Carilion’s air medical bases will continue to be a regional asset and industry leader providing an invaluable service,” stated Fred Buttrell, President/CEO of Med-Trans Corp.

Pending approval by the appropriate local agencies and government officials, Carilion plans to construct a permanent base for Life-Guard 12 at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington.

Carilion Clinic is a not-for-profit healthcare organization serving nearly one million people in Virginia through hospitals, outpatient specialty centers and advanced primary care practices. Led by multi-specialty physician teams with a shared philosophy that puts the patient first, Carilion is committed to improving outcomes for every patient while advancing the quality of care through medical education and research. For more information visit www.carilionclinic.org/about.

About Med-Trans

Med-Trans Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading provider of air ambulance programs throughout the United States. A proven solution to our partners, Med-Trans offers an array of customized air medical program designs including hybrid models, community based models or traditional hospital-based models. The company’s extensive fleet rapidly delivers teams of highly trained professionals to patients, striving to provide the patient with the best possible outcome.  For more information, please visit:   www.med-trans.net

Whooping Cough is Increasing in SW Virginia

Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital has important information for parents and grandparents

According to a Virginia Department of Health news release, whooping cough, also known as Pertussis, is increasing in Southwest Virginia.  Doctors with Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital took to the airwaves to provide important information to the community.

To learn more, watch Dr. John More on WDBJ, and Dr. Amy Kryder on WSLS.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

New Surgical Technique Brings Relief from Back Pain

A degenerative spine condition similar to arthritis can cause daily pain, especially in women ages 40-60. A handful of doctors in Virginia are using a new surgical technique that can help. Dr. Jonathan Carmouche with Carilion Clinic Orthopaedics is one of them.  See how it made a difference for one patient in this story from WSLS.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

The Healing Power of Bluegrass

Every Thursday morning, bluegrass music drifts down the halls of the first floor of the Carilion Clinic Cancer Center. Its been going on for more than 15 years, thanks to a group of dedicated musicians.
Learn more in this story from WSLS.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

JCHS President Presents Keynote Address at Annual MLK Breakfast

Dr. N.L. Bishop, president of the Jefferson College of Health Sciences, presented the keynote address before a capacity crowd at the annual Martin Luther King Day breakfast at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.  The event is sponsored each year by the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Association. In his address, Bishop told the story of the creation of the George Solonevich Scholarship at JCHS and its connection to his “Freedom’s Price” portrait of Dr. King.

Dr. Colleen Kraft Selected for New Innovation Advisors Program

Carilion Clinic’s Dr. Colleen Kraft was one of 73 clinicians from 27 states and Washington, D.C., selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its Innovation Advisors program. Dr. Kraft is the Pediatric program director at Carilion and an associate professor of Pediatrics at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute.

Launched in October 2011, the program will help health professionals deepen skills that will drive improvements to patient care and reduce costs. They will work with CMS to test new models of care delivery in their own organizations and communities and create partnerships to find new ideas that may work regionally and across the U.S.

Funding for this initiative was made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

More information about the Innovation Advisors Program, including a fact sheet and list of participants and their home organization, can be found at: http://innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/innovation-advisors/index.html.

Free Program Addresses Teen Substance Abuse Disorders

As part of our commitment to addressing our community’s mental and behavioral health needs, we are offering Back on Track, an evidence-based program proven to effectively address juvenile substance abuse disorders. Directed by Dr. Cheri Hartman and funded through a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, the free program is available to Roanoke City youth ages 12 to 17.

Offered in partnership with Family Service of Roanoke Valley, the intensive 12-week program includes a wide range of services for both teens and their parents or guardians. Back on Track is listed on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry for Evidence-based Programs for reducing repeated criminal activity in teens and adolescents. The treatment strategy known as the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach or ACRA, is endorsed by SAMHSA, as the country’s most promising treatment method for teenage substance use disorders.

“The program is a unique blend of psychiatric, counseling, case management, parent education and service learning experiences,” explained Dr. Hartman. “It is designed to address not just the substance use, but also the underlying causes and relevant factors that contribute to the problematic use of alcohol and/or drugs among teens.”

The program is currently accepting referrals. For more information, contact Dr. Cheri Hartman at cwhartman1@carilionclinic.org or 540-981-7099 (77099).

Welcome Kenneth and Valentina! Carilion’s 2012 New Year’s Babies!

 Say hello to Carilion Clinic’s first babies of 2012!

Kenneth Calvin Pendleton, pictured below with his parents, Brandy Steele and John Pendleton, was born at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center 12:21 a.m. and weighed in at 7 lbs, 7 oz.

Valentina Cano-Hernandez, shown below with her parents, Anai Hernandez-Soto and Cecilio Cano, was born at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital at 1:52 a.m. weighing 6lbs, 15ozs. Congratulations and Happy New Year to all the babies of 2012!

Can Electronic Medical Records Reduce Hospital Infections?

Its a fact – paper is  germ-carrier in hospitals! One more reason why hospitals with paperless electronic medical records are better for patients. Join the discussion on the Carilion Clinic Facebook page.

Your Prescription for Better Health – Get Fit!

Carilion’s new FIT Rx Medical Membership includes 60 days full access to the Roanoke Athletic Club, the Botetourt Athletic Club and the new RAC Xpress opening next month in down town Roanoke.  Participants also receive 2 fitness consults and a weekly one-on-one session with a personal trainer – all for $60.   The FIT Rx plan has been incorporated into Carilion’s electronic medical record system, so doctors can prescribe this specific exercise plan for their patients.To learn more about how FIT Rx works, and how it helped one Roanoke County woman, watch Jean Jadhon’s report on WDBJ.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.