Attention women: Strike your balance and refresh your mind and body at the Second Annual HealthiHer, a women’s health and wellness retreat sponsored by Parma Community General Hospital on Saturday, October 16.
Parma Community General Hospital’s stroke program has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the nation's leading accrediting body for its stroke program. The hospital has been designated as a Primary Stroke Center following a site survey by the Joint Commission.
“Parma Hospital demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.
Each year about 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.
“We’re proud to achieve this distinction,” says Ali Saleh, M.D., director of Parma Hospital’s stroke program. “Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes Parma Hospital’s commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and our community.”
The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program—the nation’s first—in 2003. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.
The nation’s first professional wheelchair dancer, Cleveland native Mary Verdi-Fletcher has opened doors for thousands of artists with and without disabilities for the past three decades. This pioneer in physically integrated dance will share her powerful personal story and inspiring dance at Parma Community General Hospital’s 21st Annual Community Prayer Breakfast in “Roses from Above: Celebrating the Spirit of Dance.” The event takes place on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7 a.m. at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Heights.
Mary Verdi-Fletcher is living proof that following one’s passion can lead to an extraordinary life. Born with spina bifida and dancing from her wheelchair since the age of 12, Ms. Verdi-Fletcher is the founder of the Cleveland-based Dancing Wheels Company & School, the nation’s first physically integrated dance company now celebrating its 30th year. From meeting the Pope as a child to dancing her way through a life-threatening medical condition, Ms. Verdi-Fletcher has never acknowledged physical or mental hurdles. She has kept dancing through it all, and will enliven the audience at this year’s Prayer Breakfast with a performance combining the skills of both dancers with and without wheelchairs.
Through more than three decades of performing and teaching dance, Ms. Verdi-Fletcher and the Dancing Wheels Company have reawakened the imagination of more than 4.5 million people. The Dancing Wheels Company travels 12 months of the year and have performed in concert halls from New York to Brussels and from Guatemala to Poland. Ms. Verdi-Fletcher, an Emmy Award winner, and her company have been featured on CNN and in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, Dance Magazine and Chronicles of Courage, a book by Jean Kennedy Smith and George Plimpton. The Dancing Wheels Company has won numerous awards, including the 2006 Northern Ohio Live Special Achievement Award, the 1998 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Outreach in Ohio and the 1997 National Rehabilitation Achievement Award.
Reserved seats are $20 per person. To reserve a seat or a table of 10, call 440-743-4280 or email Peggy Farris at mfarris@parmahospital.org. Checks can be made out to Parma Hospital Prayer Breakfast and mailed to Community Prayer Breakfast, 7007 Powers Blvd., Parma, Ohio 44129.
More than 200 walkers representing Parma Community General Hospital were among the estimated 9,000 participating in the Start! Heart Walk downtown on August 21. The Parma Hospital team included President & CEO Terrence G. Deis, Chief Financial Officer Barry Franklin and team captain Dave Miller, manager of Cardiovascular Services and coordinator of the hospital’s efforts to raise nearly $20,000 towards research and education about America’s most predominant disease. Employees and physicians brought spouses, children and even their dogs to participate in the walk, which kicked off from Mall C on a pleasantly cool morning.
Artisans from all mediums are invited to submit work for the Parma Hospital Auxiliary’s Fourth Annual Arts at the Center, a two-day juried arts and fine crafts show held in November at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Heights.
Judges are looking for work in various mediums such as acrylics, oils and watercolors, glass and metal works, and photography. They are especially interested in artisans who are potters and woodworkers.
“We look forward to another fabulous and fun event to showcase local artists,” says
Andrea Sack, Parma Hospital’s director of Volunteer Services. “This is a great way to support community health and wellness and get your holiday shopping off to a fine start.”
Tickets are $50 for a preview party on Friday, November 19 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to wear festive clothing to this “Blue Hawaii” party, which gives those in attendance an opportunity to purchase artwork. On Saturday, November 20, the general public is welcome to the free event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call Andrea Sack at 440-743-2371.
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Parma Hospital patients now have another option for imaging services along the 1-480 corridor.
Parma Hospital has acquired the Ridge Park Square location of Spectrum Imaging. The facility is now known as Parma Hospital Diagnostic Imaging at Ridge Park Square.
“This growth opportunity allows our community members greater access to ambulatory and outpatient services especially along the I-480 corridor,” says Terrence G. Deis, Parma Hospital’s president & CEO. “It also provides another convenient location for physicians to send their patients.”
Imaging services offered at Ridge Park Square include: X-Ray, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Bone Density, Ultrasound, Mammography, and Vascular Ultrasound. The 13 former Spectrum employees now work for Parma Hospital.
The office is located at 7575 Northcliff Ave., Brooklyn. Hours will remain: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Tuesday from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.; and every other Saturday, starting July 24, from 8 a.m.- noon. For information or to make an appointment, call 216-398-5551.
Parma Hospital also offers imaging services at the main hospital, 7007 Powers Blvd., Parma, and at WellPointe Pavilion, an outpatient center at 303 E. Royalton Road, Broadview Heights.
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The 11th Annual Spaghetti Cook-off to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association served up its best start yet to the annual fund-raising campaign, pulling in over $2,700 and a record number of diners.
“Women: Heart Health & Keeping a Score Card,” covering topics such as hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes, will be presented to guests at a luncheon held from 1-2 p.m. in Parma Hospital’s John A. Nelson Auditorium. Dr. Zirafi is Parma Hospital’s medical director for Cardiac Catheterization Services and a recent finalist in Crain’s Cleveland Business Health Care Heroes for championing a Code STEMI process that has set records for a team approach to heart attack treatment.
Parma Community General Hospital’s Joint Camp has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ for health care quality. The Joint Commission recently awarded Parma Hospital Disease-Specific Care Certification for total hip and total knee joint replacement. Parma Hospital is among seven hospitals in Ohio certified for these procedures.
Parma Hospital changes visitation policy for
patient safety from the flu
Limits visitors under 18 years old
During this time of increased flu activity, Parma Community General Hospital is taking proactive steps to protect the health of its patients, their families and staff by implementing a flu safety visitation policy.
Under the temporary visitation restrictions:
Visitors who have any flu-like symptoms or have been diagnosed with the flu within the past seven days will not be permitted in the hospital. An individual with flu-like symptoms should only come into the hospital if he/she is personally in need of medical treatment.