RUNNING FOR A CAUSE
FALL 2017
SOURCE
Fall 2017
UPCOMING CLASSES AND EVENTS NOVEMBER
IN THIS ISSUE
15 Breastfeeding Classes, 6:30 p.m. Madison Hospital Classroom
Hip hip hooray........................................................................................................ 4
19 BMW Brunch benefiting The Caring House
Coming to our senses......................................................................................... 6 Give them a DAISY............................................................................................... 7 A home for Hospice Family Care.................................................................. 8 News & Advancements ..................................................................................... 9 Fighting back against Parkinson’s...............................................................10 A range of robots................................................................................................12
Every Tuesday Free Bariatric Information Session at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss DECEMBER 1, 2 Safe Sitter Class, 1 p.m. Madison Hospital Classroom
Finding cancer sooner......................................................................................15
8 HealthWorks Holiday Market Madison Hospital Classroom
Friday night lifesaver ........................................................................................16
9 Breastfeeding Classes, 6:30 p.m. Madison Hospital Classroom
Rhythm of a heart...............................................................................................17 45 Years and counting......................................................................................18 Donor Spotlight: Dynetics..............................................................................19
Every Tuesday Free Bariatric Information Session at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss
Out and about in our community................................................................20 Swim for Melissa and Miracle Bash recap..............................................22 Liz Hurley Ribbon Run......................................................................................23 Senior Horizons Happenings........................................................................24
On the Cover: 2017 Liz Hurley Ribbon Run co-chairmen Annette McAdams and Marijane Jerauld with Liz Hurley and Huntsville Hospital Foundation Board Chairman Dr. Libby Shadinger kick-off the 14th annual. The proceeds from the run go to the purchase of a 3D tomosynthesis mammography machine for Huntsville Hospital’s Breast Center.
JANUARY Every Tuesday Free Bariatric Information Session at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss FEBRUARY February is Heart Month 2 National Wear Red Day MARCH 2 Party in the Park Insanity Skate Castle, 6 p.m. Food trucks, music by Juice
All rights reserved. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Articles in this magazine are written by Huntsville Hospital professionals who strive to present reliable, up-to-date information, but no publication can replace the care and advice of medical professionals. Contact your physician when considering and choosing health care treatments. For more information on the editorial content of Source, please call Huntsville Hospital Public Relations at (256) 265-8317 or Huntsville Hospital Foundation at (256) 265-8077. Please contact us if you wish to have your name removed from the list to receive fundraising requests or other mailings supporting Huntsville Hospital Foundation in the future.
For a complete list of blood drives, health screenings, support groups and other community events, visit huntsvillehospital.org/events
Your Community Hospital While national and state leaders are struggling for political solutions to our health care challenges, those of us who deal with it on a daily basis are focused on improving the things within our control. Nothing we do is more important than providing quality care and service to you and your family. Even though the decisions that are made in Washington and Montgomery have enormous impact on us, we’re doing everything we can to improve your experience with Huntsville Hospital Health System.
David Spillers, CEO
Our Mission Provide high quality care and services that will improve the health of those we serve. Our Vision To be one of the best health systems in America and consistently strive to provide clinical and service excellence. Our Values Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, Accountability, Compassion and Safety
As you may have heard, we’re replacing a 14-year-old computer system with a new electronic medical record. Although you won’t see it as a patient, it will have tremendous impact on our care for you. It’s a huge project that is projected to “go live” in late 2018. We’re also in the planning stages for the construction of a new bed tower on the main campus. This project must be approved by the State of Alabama before we can begin construction. If we are granted permission, a new bed tower will reduce the days when we have to place patients in semi-private accommodations because we don’t have enough beds on a specific unit. In an effort to shorten wait times in the main Emergency Department we’ve added more hours of physician coverage and opened more rooms for noncritical patients. Similar efforts have also been completed at Madison Hospital’s ED. We will continue to make changes to that area as needed to accommodate a growing number of patients who need to be treated at the hospital. In addition, work continues on 30 new inpatient rooms at Madison Hospital. We are hopeful that some of these rooms will be available for patients by the end of the year. Final inspection and approval from the State of Alabama is all that we need to open our community’s first inpatient hospice facility on the campus of Redstone Village. Huntsville Hospital’s Hospice Family Care facility will provide a unique level of service in a beautiful, home-like setting for patients and their families. We appreciate the community’s support of Huntsville Hospital Foundation in helping provide this special place. Your generosity and support is critical to all that we do at Huntsville Hospital. We appreciate it and could not do what we do without it.
Source | Fall 2017
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HIP HIP HOORAY Lynn Gibson had total hip replacement surgery on a Wednesday. Before sunrise the next morning, a licensed physical therapist from Huntsville Hospital’s Joint Camp program helped Gibson move from her hospital bed to a recliner. After breakfast, the dental hygienist from Scottsboro attended a group physical therapy session with other joint replacement patients, bending and rotating her new prosthetic hip. By Friday — barely 48 hours after surgery — she was out of the hospital and on her way home. “I expected to be in more pain, so that was a pleasant surprise,” said Gibson.
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In the past, a patient like Gibson coming off knee or hip replacement surgery would convalesce in their hospital room for several days before even attempting to walk. Thanks to advances in surgical techniques and prosthetic implants as well as physical therapy, these days many patients who have early-morning joint surgery are up and moving with the aid of a walker that same afternoon. Catherine Brown, RN, nursing director of Huntsville Hospital’s Joint Camp program, said physical therapy is crucial to the success of hip and knee replacement surgery. Patients who start joint-strengthening exercises two to three weeks before
surgery generally have less pain, better mobility, and a shorter hospital stay. “Research has consistently shown that early movement leads to better results,” Brown said. Every patient scheduled for hip or knee replacement at Huntsville Hospital or Madison Hospital is strongly encouraged to attend a presurgery orientation, where they learn simple exercises to increase strength and flexibility in the affected joint. Patients should do their prescribed exercises as soon as they get home from orientation and continue them daily leading up to surgery.
Huntsville orthopedic surgeon Sudhakar Madanagopal, MD, recommends that joint replacement patients “prehab” with a licensed physical therapist for six weeks prior to surgery, in addition to exercising at home. “It builds up their muscle strength so they can be successful after surgery,” said Dr. Madanagopal, who practices at The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) and is affectionately known as “Dr Su.” “Patients who go to prehab generally bounce back better and faster.” He said some patients with severe arthritis respond so well to physical therapy that they are able to postpone joint replacement surgery or avoid it altogether. Following joint replacement surgery, patients work closely with Huntsville Hospital’s Joint Camp staff to regain mobility. Along with twice-daily group physical therapy sessions, patients walk the halls of the orthopedic unit and do strengthening exercises in their hospital room. At Madison Hospital, patients get lots of individual attention from the hospital’s Joint Care team right after knee or hip surgery. Physical therapy starts in the patient’s hospital room and progresses to walking the halls. Patients who start muscle-strengthening exercises prior to joint replacement surgery generally have less pain, better mobility and a shorter hospital stay.
The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) is the region’s largest group of independent surgeons in North Alabama with 29 physicians. TOC’s Joint Replacement Team includes eight board-certified orthopedic surgeons who specialize in knee, hip and/or shoulder replacement to treat acute and chronic joint diseases. David B. Griffin, MD James T. Hughey III, DO Mark A. Leberte, MD Sudhakar Madanagopal, MD R. Allan Maples, MD Howard G. Miller, MD Michael E. Miller, MD Christopher T. Parks, MD Thomas Thomasson, MD To learn more about Huntsville Hospital’s comprehensive joint replacement program call (256) 265-8343 or visit huntsvillehospital.org/joint-camp
Don’t live with
KNEE PAIN. Our teams are the region’s most experienced in orthopedic care which means you can return to an active lifestyle with a new, healthier joint.
Source | Fall 2017
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COMING TO OUR SENSES
FINDING WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE AUTISTIC PATIENTS Through its Child Life Department, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children is on the forefront of meeting the unique needs of pediatric patients with autism. The Child Life staff recently connected with Kulture City, an organization that helps businesses become sensory inclusive. This means training to learn how autistic patients are affected by their environment. Bright lights, loud sounds, strange people and painful touches can be extremely distressing for these children. Providing comfort and coping tools like noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidget tools and weighted lap pads can make a big difference for patients and families.
BRIGHT LIGHTS, LOUD SOUNDS, STRANGE PEOPLE AND PAINFUL TOUCHES CAN BE EXTREMELY DISTRESSING.
“The training is vital for our staff because knowing how and when to utilize those tools is important,” said child life specialist Brittany Ellisor, MA, CCLS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children sees an average of 26 young patients with autism each week. With this increased prevalence comes a responsibility for hospital staff to evaluate how they can better serve autistic patients when they seek medical care. The hospital’s Child Life specialists also use a VECTA Mobile Sensory Station, which displays an array of lights and movement to help anxious patients better cope with their hospital stay. A SENSE OF PURPOSE While advocacy and research efforts are moving the needle on society’s understanding of autism, those living with autism and other developmental disabilities are finding ways to improve their own quality of life through employment. Huntsville Hospital is in its fifth year as a partner in Project SEARCH and hosts a new group of interns each year. Project SEARCH is a national program that provides real-life work experience opportunities to high school students in their last year of school. The interns spend 10 weeks working in different areas of the hospital, developing important work skills and independence. Several interns have continued on as a hospital employee after completing their internship. “The opportunity to participate in the community improves these individuals’ quality of life and provides them with a sense of purpose,” said Christie Roland, Huntsville City Schools teacher and Project SEARCH coordinator. “Everyone deserves to have work that gives them purpose and makes their life meaningful.”
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KNOW AN EXCEPTIONAL RN? GIVE THEM A DAISY If you’ve spent time at the hospital as a patient or visitor, you’ve met our amazing registered nurses. You can now publicly thank your favorite caregiver by nominating her or him for a DAISY Award. An expansion of our Care Champion employee recognition program, the DAISY Awards are open to registered nurses at any Huntsville Hospital Health System location in Madison County. Winners will receive a bouquet of fresh daisies and a sweet treat of cinnamon buns. Nomination forms are available at nursing desks throughout Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and Madison Hospital. The national DAISY Award program is intended to honor nurses who: – Made a special connection with patients and families through trust and emotional support. – Gave compassionate care, keeping the patient and family at the center of care to include focusing on meeting patient and family goals – Upheld the highest standards of professional nursing practice – Demonstrated excellent clinical and critical thinking skills – Communicated clearly and effectively with all co-workers, patients and families – Created enthusiasm and energy towards meeting the challenges of nursing while working with others to achieve common goals and effect change. More than 2,700 hospitals and other medical facilities worldwide have adopted the DAISY Award as a way to recognize exceptional RNs. The family of Patrick Barnes, a Seattle man who died in 1999 of an autoimmune disorder, developed the DAISY Award to thank the nurses who cared for Barnes during his final weeks.
32nd ANNUAL
Benefiting The Caring House Sunday, November 19, 2017 Noon Century BMW 3800 University Drive Catering by Cotton Row huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org For more information, please call (256) 265-8077. /HuntsvilleHospitalFoundation
@HuntsvilleHospitalFoundation
@HH_Foundation
Source | Fall 2017
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A HOME FOR HOSPICE FAMILY CARE In previous issues of Source, we told you about Madison County’s first inpatient hospice facility. We’re happy to report that the building is finished, the staff is now in place, and the facility will open midNovember. Operated by Hospice Family Care, a service of Huntsville Hospital, the inpatient facility will serve terminally ill patients who have symptoms that cannot be managed at home or whose family require respite care. Specially trained staff including physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, spiritual counselors and volunteers will be available to address all areas of patient needs. Hospice Family Care also provides hospice care in the home setting. Here’s a sneak peek inside this very special facility on the campus of Redstone Village in south Huntsville. For more on Hospice Family Care, watch a video at hhsys.org/hfc.
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Double dose of good news Huntsville Hospital’s pulmonary rehab and cardiac rehab programs were both certified recently by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). Programs certified by the AACVPR are recognized as leaders in the field because they offer the most advanced practices available. Based at the hospital’s Center for Lung Health, pulmonary rehab is a medically supervised exercise and education program for patients with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised exercise and education program at Huntsville Hospital Heart Center for patients recovering from heart bypass and valve surgery, angioplasty and stent procedures, and myocardial infarction. The doctor is in Huntsville Hospital physicians are providing care at two local skilled nursing facilities with the goal of keeping residents healthy and reducing expensive hospital admissions. Under a new partnership with Diversicare of Big Springs and Brookshire HealthCare Center, six hospitalist physicians specializing in adult medicine make regular visits to both facilities and are on call 24-7.
Help for Houston Madison Hospital employees recently donated two pallets of bottled water, diapers, canned goods, cleaning supplies and other helpful items to Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, which had about 2,700 workers displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Manager of Support Services James Baker personally delivered the items to Memorial Hermann CEO Chuck Stokes, a former Huntsville Hospital chief operating officer. Madison Hospital organized the “Help for Houston” flood relief drive in honor of Stokes.
Recognizing this reality, the state Certificate of Need Review Board has approved Huntsville Hospital Health System’s plan to add 30 more acute care beds at Madison Hospital. Those additional private rooms for medical-surgical and intensive care patients are under construction and on track to be finished by the end of this year. Madison Hospital was designed with about 18,000 square feet of unfinished shell space on the fourth and fifth floors to accommodate future expansion, and that’s where the new patient rooms are going. Making space in Madison Even before Madison Hospital opened in 2012, President Mary Lynne Wright knew it would have to be expanded at some point. That time has come. Hospital admissions and Emergency Department visits are growing, and it’s been clear for a while that 60 inpatient beds is no longer enough to serve Madison and surrounding areas.
More nurses are being hired to staff those areas, including a new eight-bed Intensive Care Unit that will be twice the size of Madison Hospital’s existing ICU. “We knew when we opened in 2012 that this day would come,” Wright said of the 30-bed addition. “I’m happy to report that we are staying ahead of the needs of the community.” Eventually, she said, Madison Hospital will need to enlarge the Labor & Delivery unit, create more patient rooms inside the Emergency Department, and build two new surgical suites. Source | Fall 2017
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Rock Steady Boxing participants work on their hand-eye coordination by punching the speed bag. 10 huntsvillehospital.org
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST PARKINSON’S A sweaty gym in central Huntsville may seem an unlikely setting for a miracle, but don’t tell that to Carolyn Rhodes. She’s convinced the gym’s high-energy Rock Steady Boxing workouts can slow the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Earlier this year, Huntsville Hospital’s Jean Wessel Templeton Community Health Initiative awarded Rock Steady Boxing a $22,000 grant to help pay for gym space and coaches. The hospital grant program distributes $500,000 annually to nonprofit organizations working to improve the health of Madison County residents. “I’ve seen the successes firsthand,” said Rhodes, who coaches Rock Steady Boxing and is married to a man with Parkinson’s disease. “My husband went from falling down several times a month to zero falls for close to a year.” Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of dopamine, a naturally-occurring chemical that helps relay messages from the brain to other parts of the body. As dopamine disappears, so does coordination, strength and balance. Dopamine replacement therapy is the standard treatment to manage the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, but for reasons that aren’t fully understood, patients who exercise vigorously tend to need less medicine. And that means fewer side effects. An Indianapolis lawyer started Rock Steady Boxing in 2006 as a way to fight back against his early-onset Parkinson’s. The nonprofit fitness program now has thousands of loyal followers across the globe. When Rhodes’ husband, Jim Rhodes, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s early last year, the nearest Rock Steady Boxing class was in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The couple traveled to Indiana to become certified coaches so they could bring the program to Huntsville. Three Parkinson’s patients came to the first local class in April 2016. Word quickly spread. By last Thanksgiving, Rock Steady Boxing had outgrown its original home on Governors Drive and moved to a larger gym off Leeman Ferry Road.
Today, the Huntsville chapter has more than 100 members from all over North Alabama and southern Tennessee. Many of them were referred by Huntsville Hospital neurologist Amit Arora, MD. Dr. Arora said that while Rock Steady Boxing won’t reverse Parkinson’s disease, it does improve patients’ balance and muscle stiffness and lowers their risk of accidental falls. “It has been invaluable to almost every patient we have sent for training,” said Dr. Arora. “The disease goes on, but it allows patients to be the best version of themselves. It also gives them a real sense of hope, which is important when you are facing a condition that can seem defeating at times.” Rock Steady Boxing is a service of the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center but is open to Parkinson’s patients of all ages. The workouts mimic the hardcore cardiovascular training done by professional boxers, with one big exception: No contact allowed. Participants pull on boxing gloves and rotate through different exercise stations, pausing only briefly in between. They throw jabs at punching bags, rhythmically swat the speed bag, dribble basketballs, and lift heavy ropes. Boxers with balance problems have a helper at their side to keep them steady. By the end of the 90-minute class, Bill Haycock is slick with sweat and out of breath. A retired Army infantry officer from Hampton Cove, Haycock said the tremors in his left hand caused by Parkinson’s disease have all but disappeared since he started Rock Steady Boxing. “After I was diagnosed, my neurologist said, ‘Get your butt over there,’” he said. “The boxing and the exercise is important, but so is the camaraderie. We’re all in the same boat, and you see people all the time hugging and encouraging each other. I just love being here.”
Since its founding in 1996, Huntsville Hospital’s Jean Wessel Templeton Community Health Initiative has distributed more than $9.8 million to nonprofit organizations working to improve the health of Madison County residents. Beth Richardson serves as the chair of the Community Health Initiative. The 2017-2018 grant recipients are: ARC of Madison County Autism Resource Foundation
HEALS
Rock Steady Boxing
CASA of Madison County
New Hope Children’s Clinic
United Cerebral Palsy
Community Free Clinic
North Alabama Medical Reserve Corps
Village of Promise
Community Free Dental Clinic
North Alabama Sickle Cell
WellStone Behavioral Health Source | Fall 2017
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A RANGE OF ROBOTS Huntsville Hospital has one of the region’s most comprehensive robotic surgery programs with six computerguided surgery systems and 59 physicians on the medical staff credentialed to use them. The hospital is the only facility in Alabama to offer Mazor X, the world’s most advanced spine surgery robot, and recently added a fourth da Vinci computer-assisted surgery system that will primarily be used for colorectal and cardiothoracic procedures. “Huntsville Hospital is really at the forefront of technology,” said gynecologic oncologist Tyler Kirby, MD. “You won’t find better surgical capabilities anywhere.” Surgical robots were a medical novelty when Dr. Kirby began his fellowship training in 2003. Few hospitals had them, few surgeons were trained to use them, and there was little data suggesting that robotic surgery was better for patients than minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery. In just over a decade since Dr. Kirby performed the first computer-assisted gynecologic surgery in Alabama in January 2006, robots have become a common sight in operating rooms nationwide. Huntsville Hospital offers more than 50 minimally invasive computer-assisted surgical procedures, from hysterectomies, hernia repair and knee replacement to prostate removal, colon resection and spine surgery. These are performed with one of six different robotic-assisted devices at Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and Governors Medical Tower Outpatient Surgery. Robots will be used in more than a thousand procedures at the hospital this year, and that number is expected to grow in the future. “We want to provide exceptional care, and to do that we have to stay abreast of current trends in medicine,” said Thomas Fender, the hospital’s vice president of surgical services. “We’ve definitely developed an expertise in computer-assisted surgery, and it’s a big part of our commitment to the community.” 12 huntsvillehospital.org
Huntsville Hospital is the only hospital in Alabama to offer Mazor X, the world’s most advanced spine surgery robot. Above, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Scholl and neurosurgeon Dr. Jason Banks, above left, demonstrate Huntsville Hospital’s new Mazor X robotic spine surgery system. Right, gynecologic oncologist Dr. Tyler Kirby, above right, performs hysterectomies and other procedures with the hospital’s da Vinci robotic surgery system.
For patients, robotic surgery offers several advantages over traditional open surgery including a shorter hospital stay, lower risk of complications, less pain and blood loss, and a faster recovery. Take hysterectomies, Dr. Kirby’s specialty, as an example. With the open approach, the surgeon makes a six- to eight-inch incision. With robotic surgery, the surgeon makes three or four small holes in the abdomen about the length of an office staple. The robot’s multiple arms are equipped with tiny surgical instruments and a high-definition video camera small enough to pass through those openings. The surgeon controls the robotic arms from a console that translates his hand movements to the surgical tools. Like robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery is done through small incisions and offers many of the same advantages including dramatically lower risks of surgical site infections, pneumonia and other major complications. In laparoscopic procedures, the surgeon stands beside the patient while maneuvering hand-held surgical instruments affixed to long shafts. Dr. Kirby said robotic instruments give physicians unmatched precision and range of motion. For example, the miniaturized tools on Huntsville Hospital’s FDA-approved da Vinci surgery systems can rotate far more than the human wrist – 540 degrees, to be precise – without any vibration. That’s especially important when cutting around large veins and arteries, Dr. Kirby said. Huntsville Hospital offers robot-assisted surgical procedures in these specialty areas: Gynecology
Thoracic
Total hip and knee
GYN oncology
Spine
General surgery
Urology Source | Fall 2017
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A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR ROBOTIC SURGERY SYSTEMS Mazor X Huntsville Hospital is the only hospital in Alabama — and one of just a few in the Southeast — with a Mazor X robotic surgery system for treatment of spine conditions including spinal stenosis, scoliosis and spondylolisthesis. Sophisticated 3D software lets physicians create a surgical blueprint based on the unique anatomy of each patient; the Mazor robotic arm then safely and accurately guides surgical tools and implants into place. Benefits of this FDA-approved technology may include smaller incisions, fewer complications, less exposure to radiation during surgery, and a quicker recovery. TOC orthopedic surgeon Brian Scholl, MD, performed the state’s first Mazor X robotic surgery procedure at Huntsville Hospital in September. Huntsville Hospital Spine & Neuro Center’s Jason Banks, MD and TOC’s Larry Parker, MD are also being credentialed to operate with the Mazor X. Da Vinci The da Vinci robot is one of the most advanced surgical technologies in health care and can be used by physicians across many specialties. The unique design combines endoscopic surgery, high-definition microscopic viewing and a 540-degree rotation of surgical instruments. The surgeon makes small incisions to insert an advanced microscope attached to a high-definition camera that delivers a 3D image. With superior visualization, the surgeon can perform meticulous dissections via the robotic arms of the da Vinci. The surgeon’s hands literally guide the robot’s arms during surgery.
Huntsville Hospital has four da Vinci robotic surgery systems like the one pictured above. Robotic surgery offers several advantages over traditional open surgery including a shorter hospital stay, lower risk of complications, less pain and blood loss, and a faster recovery.
MAKOplasty Huntsville Hospital is among a select group of Alabama hospitals to offer the MAKOplasty joint replacement system. Procedures done this way are less invasive than traditional joint replacement surgery and are performed using RIO, a highly advanced, surgeoncontrolled robotic arm system. The RIO system provides a 3D image of the patient’s hips or knees based on a previous CT scan. Using the 3D model, the surgeon can plan the most favorable size and position of the implant, which is critical for proper joint reconstruction. If the patient is a candidate for partial knee resurfacing, the system’s robotic arm allows the surgeon to target a specific compartment of the knee while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it. MAKOplasty Hip assists surgeons in achieving accurate alignment and positioning of hip implants. BEYOND THE OPERATING ROOM The hospital pharmacy uses robots to fill syringes and IV bags with liquid medicine. In the Clinical Lab, an adorable, talking robotic courier named Dottie delivers vials of blood and other specimens for analysis day and night.
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FINDING CANCER SOONER Usually symptoms of lung cancer don’t appear until the disease is already at an advanced, non-curable stage, according to the American Cancer Society. The challenges in early diagnosis of lung cancer may contribute to the statistic that more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. But with a low-dose CT scan of the chest, a screening available at Huntsville Hospital Medical Mall and Madison Hospital, lung cancer can be detected in the early stages. To be eligible for the screening, patients must meet certain criteria related to their age and smoking history. They must also have a physician referral for the screening. “Finding lung cancer early is absolutely key for patients to have the best chance for survival,” said Ricky Zalamea, MD, a radiologist with Radiology of Huntsville. “With a low-dose CT scan, we can see the cancer sooner than with a traditional chest X-ray.” Data from 2016 certainly supports the effectiveness of low-dose CT scans of the chest. Of the patients who received the screening at Huntsville Hospital in 2016 and were diagnosed with lung cancer as a result, 78 percent were diagnosed at an earlier stage of the disease. “When you compare this statistic to national averages that indicate more than 65 percent of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are at an advanced stage , we feel really good about our program and encourage those at risk for lung cancer to talk to their physician to see if this screening is right for them,” said Karen Adams, RN director of Huntsville Hospital’s Cancer Program and the Center for Lung Health. Getting the word out about the importance of lung cancer screening, and specifically the effectiveness of low-dose CT scans of the chest, is a goal of the Southeast Lung Alliance. A collaboration of physicians working to expand the utilization of lung cancer screening and successful programs in smoking cessation, the Southeast Lung Alliance recently held the inaugural Great Huntsville Smokeout: Doctor Showdown event to raise funds in support of its initiatives.
Above, Dr. Zalamea consults a lung scan from a patient’s low dose CT scan.
CT scans provide cross-sectional images of the body that are more detailed than traditional X-rays. During the scan patients lie on a motorized table that slides through the CT scanner, which is shaped like a large doughnut standing on its side. Patient criteria for low-dose CT scan of the chest – Age 55-77 – 30 or more pack year history (pack year history = packs smoked per day x years smoked) – Active smoker as recently as 15 years ago – No signs or symptoms of lung cancer If you or someone you know meets this criteria, talk with your physician about a low-dose CT scan for lung cancer.
Recently Madison Hospital was designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology. Huntsville Hospital Imaging Center, located in the Medical Mall on the corner of Memorial Parkway and Governors Drive in Huntsville, received its designation in 2015. Source | Fall 2017
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Mark Russell talks with Huntsville Hospital cardiac nurse Paulette Berryman on Madison Academy’s football field.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIFESAVER In her 31 years as a registered nurse, Paulette Berryman has been called on many times to help revive people in distress. But a recent life-or-death situation involving a Huntsville City Council member may have been the most dramatic. On Aug. 25, Mark Russell, who moonlights as a high school referee, collapsed on the field of an apparent heart attack during a Madison Academy football game. Fortunately, Berryman, a cardiac nurse educator in Huntsville Hospital’s Cath Lab, was on the sidelines taking pictures just a few feet away. Her husband is an assistant football coach at Madison Academy. As Berryman rushed onto the field and started chest compressions, the stunned crowd fell silent. “It’s what I do for a living, so it was just kind of an automatic response,” she said. “There are millions of health care workers who know CPR, and any of them would have reacted the same way.” 16 huntsvillehospital.org
Other medical professionals at the game also came to the councilman’s aid, including urologist James Flatt, MD, HEMSI employees Jill Schultz, Dion Schultz and Aaron Hunt, Madison Academy trainer Shane Harris and school nurse Kristi Smith. After being transported to Huntsville Hospital by ambulance, Russell had an emergency angioplasty procedure to re-open a blocked coronary artery. He was back at Huntsville City Hall about two weeks later and resumed his football referee duties in early October. Russell said he has made a number of heart-healthy lifestyle changes to help prevent another heart attack including cutting back on sodium, red meat, butter, fried foods and processed foods. “I actually feel really good,” said Russell, 54. “They attribute my recovery to the fact that Paulette, HEMSI and the other medical people started CPR so quickly. It humbles you that people you’ve never met would step in to save your life.” “Take a CPR class,” she said, “so you can know what to do in that situation.”
WANT TO LEARN CPR? The American Heart Association Training Center at Huntsville Hospital’s Corporate University offers a full range of CPR courses for the community. Here’s the class schedule through the end of 2018. To register, please call (256) 265-8025. Basic Life Support (CPR) Nov. 25, 2017, Jan. 13, May 12, Nov. 3 and Dec. 15, 2018 Meets from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Corporate University Room 112 Cost: $55 for students, $60 for non-students Basic Life Support (CPR) renewal course Nov. 30, 2017, Jan. 4, May 3 and Nov. 29, 2018 Meets from 6 - 10 p.m. Corporate University Room 112 Cost: $35 for students, $40 for non-students
RHYTHM OF A HEART The team of Heart Center cardiac electrophysiologists who treat patients with heart rhythm disorders: Drs. Jay Dinerman, John Jennings, Paul Tabereaux and Scott Allison.
Love or even a roller coaster ride can make your heart feel like it’s quivering. But a quivering or fluttering heart can also be a sign of a serious medical condition called atrial fibrillation. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two upper chambers, called the atria, quiver instead of beating normally and can cause the lower chambers of the heart, known as ventricles, to beat irregularly. It’s the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, affecting an estimated 6-8 million Americans. “It’s really a national health problem,” said John Jennings, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Huntsville Hospital Heart Center. “After age 40, you have an approximately 25 percent risk of developing AFib at some point during your life.” Symptoms include heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and fatigue, although not everyone has symptoms. “If left untreated, AFib significantly increases a person’s risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complication, “ said Jay Dinerman, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Huntsville Hospital Heart Center. In accordance with national guidelines, either medication or ablation can be used to treat atrial fibrillation. Antiarrhythmic drugs work by preventing the irregular electrical activity, often from the pulmonary veins, that often causes atrial fibrillation. For AFib patients who still have problems after trying antiarrhythmic medication or who don’t want to take the drugs long term, Dr. Jennings said pulmonary vein isolation with radiofrequency ablation is an option worth considering.
Radiofrequency ablation has been widely used as a treatment for atrial fibrillation for over a decade, and last year more than 300 AFib patients from North Alabama and southern Tennessee had the procedure done at Huntsville Hospital. That’s more than any other hospital in the region. “There’s comfort in numbers,” Dr. Jennings said, “because hospitals with higher-volume ablation programs tend to have a better rate of success and a lower rate of complications.” During an ablation procedure, an electrophysiologist – a cardiologist with additional training in heart rhythm disorders and the electric system of the heart – guides thin catheters from veins in the leg to the heart. The ablation catheter applies energy that cauterizes around the pulmonary veins, creating scar tissue that blocks the abnormal electrical signals from reaching the heart’s upper chambers. Ablation takes about 90-120 minutes and is performed in one of Huntsville Hospital’s advanced electrophysiology labs. Heart Center electrophysiologists J. Scott Allison, MD, and Paul Tabereaux, MD, also perform the procedure. Most patients go home the next day and only need to stay on antiarrhythmic drugs for a few weeks, along with a blood thinner to help prevent stroke. Dr. Jennings said that in at least 75 percent of patients, ablation is successful at restoring the heart to normal rhythm – often for years afterward. Patients who continue to have AFib episodes may need additional ablation procedures or another type of treatment. He added, “AFib is like most medical conditions – the earlier it’s caught, the better the outcome.” Source | Fall 2017
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45 YEARS AND COUNTING Peggy Matzkiw is nursing director of Huntsville Hospital’s Surgical Service Line. She recently marked her 45th anniversary with the hospital.
Peggy Matzkiw had her heart set on being a labor and delivery nurse. Helping women through childbirth ran in her large Icelandic family. Her grandmother was a midwife; an uncle became an obstetrician. But when Matzkiw (pronounced MATTSCUE) earned her nursing degree from Calhoun Community College and went hunting for a job in September 1972, Huntsville Hospital didn’t have any openings in Labor & Delivery. “I said, ‘OK, what do you have available?’” Matzkiw recalls. “They said, ‘We have an RN position on the neurosurgery floor.’” She didn’t know it at the time, but caring for neuro patients would become her passion and fuel a nursing career that has spanned 45 years – and counting. “I’ll probably wake up one day and decide that I don’t want to do this any longer, but it hasn’t happened yet,” said Matzkiw, who is nursing director of the hospital’s Surgical Service Line. “I still love helping patients and our staff, trying to make things better for them.” 18 huntsvillehospital.org
Matzkiw grew up in Iceland and still flies back a couple of times a year to visit family. She met her husband, Joe Matzkiw, on a blind date while he was stationed there in the 1960s. Back then, she went by her given name: Gudridur Haraldsdottir. After following Joe to the United States and living for a while in New York City, the couple moved south to join Matzkiw’s oldest sister, Elin, in Huntsville. Her first day at Huntsville Hospital was Sept. 11, 1972. Less than two years later, she was running the Neurosurgery Unit. “I was really green back then,” Matzkiw said. “It was baptism by fire, but they say the school of hard knocks is the best teacher. And after a while, the neurosurgeons trusted me.” She turned out to be a natural leader, eventually helping launch the hospital’s first specially designated Neuro ICU and an organ donor program that’s considered a model for hospitals across the state. She’s also been heavily
involved in international research to improve stroke care through the sharing of data and best practices. Along the way, Matzkiw somehow found time to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing, a master’s in critical care, a certificate in health care administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton School of Business, and become a nurse practitioner. “I graduated from UAH three times,” she said. How dedicated is Matzkiw to nursing? She commutes three hours a day to Huntsville from her home on Tim’s Ford Lake in Tennessee and put 400,000 miles on her last vehicle, a Toyota 4Runner. Asked if she hopes to join the small fraternity of 50-year employees memorialized with special floor tiles in Huntsville Hospital’s Walk of Fame, Matzkiw says no. “I don’t want people stepping on me,” she said with a laugh.
FOUNDATION DONOR SPOTLIGHT DYNETICS CEO DAVE KING Dynetics’ employment demographics historically include a large segment of young married employees, many of whom choose to deliver their children at Huntsville Hospital. So, on Dynetics’ 40th corporate anniversary, it seemed only fitting that we choose a gift for the hospital that was very meaningful to both our employees and our community at large. — Marc Bendickson
Dave King, CEO, Greg Lester, President and Marc Bendickson, Board of Directors Chairman and former CEO, with HALO SleepSacks.
Dynetics has been a major donor of Huntsville Hospital Foundation since the company’s 40th anniversary in 2014. What started as a one-time donation has grown into an annual contribution to Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, fully funding the HALO SleepSack program. If you have delivered a baby at Huntsville Hospital in the past three years, you have personally witnessed the impact of this donation upon bringing your newborn home! This summer marked Dynetics’ fourth year of giving, allowing Huntsville Hospital Foundation to continue funding this essential program for families across North Alabama. Q: What inspires Dynetics to give to Huntsville Hospital Foundation? A: As a company, we are constantly looking toward the future. We wanted to contribute not only to a cause that would benefit the community in which we live and work and play, but we wanted to contribute in a way that reflected our company culture. We are a company with a large number of young people who have growing families. It was fitting then that we contribute $40,000 on our 40-year anniversary to the youngest members of the community that we love. We have continued this donation yearly because we want to give every life a chance. Q: Why is the donation of SleepSacks important to your company?
A: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is something that has personally affected many of our employees and has the potential to impact every family. We believe that fighting SIDS is a way to not only fight for our employees’ families, but fight for our future. Q: Your donation has impacted more than 22,000 babies at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. What does that mean to you and your employees? A: Employees bring us the causes that are important to them. Every year, our employees, through our donations committee, assign a large portion of this money to health-related causes for the community. A good amount of that allocation goes to Huntsville Hospital Foundation, not just with the SleepSack
program, but with the Huntsville Classic and other partnerships that we value. I think this was and continues to be so important to our employees because Huntsville Hospital has directly affected the lives of so many of them. The hospital is there for some of their most joyful moments, like a birth, and is there to support and heal for the more difficult ones, as well. Q: What comments have you heard from people in the community whose children, or grandchildren, received a HALO SleepSack? A: With the HALO SleepSack program specifically, I receive lots of gratitude from both employees and friends who appreciate Dynetics’ support of this very important program. Source | Fall 2017
19
OUT AND ABOUT
in OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE FOUNDATION
Students from Lindsay Lane Christian Academy participated in a book drive to benefit children at Huntsville Hospital’s St. Jude affiliate clinic and The Caring House. The students raised money and donated more than 175 books, valuing over $700!
Kaitlynn Roark, Development Council member, shops the Kendra Scott grandopening event to benefit the NICU. The evening benefited the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund.
Trail runners run the Go for the GOLD 5K/10K Trail and Road Run, supporting children at the Huntsville Hospital Pediatric Oncology Clinic.
Marijane Jerauld, Ribbon Run chairman, Janice Allison, Donna Mahieux; and Annette McAdams, Ribbon Run chairman attend Anna Cate’s “Jewels for Hope” event benefiting the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund.
The Foundation Board of Trustees approved $513,780 in funding for Huntsville Hospital equipment and programs at its first FY 2018 board meeting in September.
Kiptyn Hatfield was recently adopted and, instead of receiving presents at his celebratory party, he chose to give back to five local charities. Kiptyn’s donation of $145 benefits The Caring House!
20 huntsvillehospital.org
By purchasing a Codeword Hats 256 Rocket City cap, you are not only representing Huntsville—you are giving back! Twenty percent of sales benefit Pediatrics at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.
High school ambassadors recently kicked off the SPEAK program throughout Madison City Schools, Huntsville City Schools, Madison County Schools and area private schools, promoting suicide awareness and prevention among their peers.
6,150 runners joined together in support of breast cancer awareness and prevention at Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s 14th annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5K and Survivors’ Walk on Saturday, Oct. 21. Proceeds benefit Huntsville Hospital’s Breast Center, and will be used to purchase a 3D tomosynthesis mammography machine, making breast cancer easier to detect, particularly in dense breast tissue.
6,150 runners and walkers start the 14th annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5K.
Liz Hurley poses during a beautiful sunrise with the 1,100-plus luminaries purchased in memory or in honor of friends and loved ones touched by breast cancer.
Shirley Stewart, Brenda Karr and Kassidy Karr walk hand in hand during the Survivors’ Walk at the Huntsville Junior High School track.
The Ribbon Run 5K and Survivors’ Walk are filled with inspirational and meaningful signs and custom-made T-shirts.
Members of Huntsville Gymnastics Center’s Ribbon Run team are “Handstanding Together for a Cure”!
Left, Josh Whitehead was the top overall runner with a time of 15:39 and right, Justyna Mudy-Mader was the top overall female runner with a time of 17:32.
Winners of the male 30-34 age division: Beck Mitchell (16:48), Andrew Hodges (16:54), and Rob Segrest (18:52) pictured with Liz Hurley.
Almost 700 attendees and swimmers joined Huntsville Hospital Foundation for the 12th Annual Miracle Bash on Friday, Aug. 4, and Swim for Melissa on Saturday, Aug. 5. This two-day event raised a record $185,000, benefiting the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund. Proceeds enabled the Foundation to purchase 10 open cribs, five isolettes, a video-guided laryngoscope, Beads of Courage, and parking tokens for NICU parents. This investment in technology and equipment impacts the more than 1,000 newborns who are admitted into the Regional NICU annually, and their families. Swim for Melissa and the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund were established in memory of Amy and Chris George’s daughter, Melissa. In June 2005, Amy gave birth at 26 weeks to Melissa and Ann Catherine. Melissa died just a few hours after she was born, and Ann Catherine was a patient in the RNICU for 68 days. This event has invested $1.7 million in Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children’s NICU over the past 12 years.
Amy, Lily Baker, Chris and Ann Catherine George host Swim for Melissa for the 12th year in a row.
Twins and triplets represent the Huntsville Area Mothers of Multiples Hammerheads Swim Team. HAMOM is a nonprofit support group open to all mothers of multiples in Huntsville and surrounding areas.
Rowan, Chris, Adrian, and Jes Baldridge support the 2017 Swim for Melissa, just 13 months following the birth of NICU ‘graduate’ Adrian.
Drs. Craig and Libby Shadinger (Huntsville Hospital Foundation Board chairman), Dr. Tyler Kirby, and Mindy and Dr. Patrick Wilson
Molly and Josh Steele, Anna Ford, Kevin and Beth Moore enjoying the Miracle Bash event and silent auction.
A special thank you to the 2017 Miracle Bash Committee: (L-R) Kelly O’Connor, Lauren Battle, Andrea Landers, Andrea Hatfield, Molli Kirby, Kate Nuwayhid, Amy George, Anna Ford, Ann Ever Ainsworth, Katherine Hanback and Brooke McGee.
22 huntsvillehospital.org
A special thanks to our 2017 sponsors! Melissa’s legacy
Mi racle Makers
li fesavers
Heroes Erin Cobb Photography, Dr. Meyer Dworsky and Ms. Revelle Gwyn, Drs. Paul and Karen Israel, McLain Surgical Arts, Republic Services, Inc., Wells Fargo
angels Aero Thermo Technology, Alabama Farmer’s CoOp, Carriage Chevrolet, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Davison, Sara Friedt, Amy and Chris George, Mr. and Mrs. Hayward Gunnin, Jerry Damson Honda, Katherine and Chris Hanback, Drs. Matthew and Stephanie Israel, Elizabeth McClard, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan C. McGee, Dr. and Mrs. Lee Morris, Laura Oliver, Retina Specialists, Dr. and Mrs. Paul B. Tabereaux, The Thompson Foundation, Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties, Inc
preeMi e pals Alabama OB/GYN Associates, Diane and Wayne Blocker, Dr. Lynsey Brown and Mr. Jim Brown, Chicken Salad Chick, Element Huntsville, Nicole and Peter Farrell, Margaret & Jack Gleason, Andrea and Matt Hatfield, KFS, LLC, Molli and Tyler Kirby, Paige and Michael Kopecky, Ingrid and Bill Lunsford, Marcelle and Vinit Mahesh, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Medela, Inc, MMC&E, Marianna and Robert Oakley, Dr. and Mrs. Brian Patz, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Drs. Craig and Libby Shadinger, Chris and Kacie Simpson, Victory Solutions, Beth and Dennis Weese, Marsha and Ron Willis, Col (r) Drew Stanley and Ms. Leigh Wright, Yulista
Source | Fall 2017
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SAVE THE DATE NOVEMBER 1 & 2 Huntsville Hospital Main Tour, 9 a.m. 14 Lunch Bunch, 11 a.m. Grille 29 (American), 445 Providence Main, 35806 18 Holiday Card Making, 9:30 a.m. – Noon with Barbara Wilkes 21 Walking Night, Galaxy of Lights, Huntsville Botanical Garden, 5:30 p.m. 30 Local Outing, Docent led tour — Norman Rockwell Exhibit, Huntsville Museum of Art, 1:00 p.m. DECEMBER 12 Tasty Tuesday Christmas Potluck, 11:30 a.m., Trinity UMC, 607 Airport Road, 35802 14 Day Trip, Nashville, TN (sold out) 29 Lunch Bunch 11 a.m. Hildagard’s (German) 1010 Heathland Drive, 35816 JANUARY 6 Local Outing, “The Greatest Showman,” (Movie time, location, cost TBA) 9 Lunch Bunch, 11 a.m. 1892 East (American) 720 Pratt Avenue, 35801, in Five Points 13 Day Trip, Lynchburg, TN FEBRUARY 13 Lunch Bunch, 11 a.m. Carrabba’s Italian Grill (Italian) West side of Parkway Place, 2nd level 15 Day Trip, Red Bay, AL 20 Tasty Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Trinity UMC, 607 Airport Road, 35802 MARCH 13 Lunch Bunch, 11 a.m. Luciano’s 964 Airport Road, 35802 (across from SteinMart) 17 Day Trip, Morgan County, AL 27 Tasty Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Trinity UMC, 607 Airport Road, 35802 Call (256) 265-7950 for reservations. Huntsville Hospital Senior Horizons 101 Sivley Road · Huntsville , AL 35801 www.huntsvillehospital.org/senior-horizons sharon.darty@hhsys.org 24 huntsvillehospital.org
FOR MEMBERS OF
SENIOR
TASTY TUESDAY Tuesday, December 12 Tasty Tuesday Potluck Christmas Luncheon Cost: Free and bring a holiday side dish to serve 8 11:30 a.m. – Potluck Luncheon Bring your favorite holiday side dish or dessert. Chicken and dressing , rolls and beverages will be provided. Couples should bring two dishes to serve 8. Holiday music by Lauren Carter and storytelling by Joanne Sanders. Tuesday, February 20 Sepsis: A Medical Emergency Cost: $11 11:30 a.m. – Box Lunches from Edgars in Providence In this presentation, we will learn about the symptoms of sepsis, what you should do if you suspect you have sepsis, and provide resources in the event that you develop sepsis. Awareness is key to decreasing the number of deaths from sepsis. Tasty Tuesdays are held quarterly at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road, 35802. The meeting includes a box lunch. Doors open at 11 a.m. and blood pressure checks are held 11-11:30 a.m.
LOCAL OUTINGS Hospital Tours Huntsville Hospital is the second largest hospital in Alabama and is the flagship hospital for the nation’s third largest publicly-owned hospital system. Here’s your chance to learn first-hand about the nationally-recognized health care available in our own backyard through tours offered in November. Tour times range from 1½-2 hours. Please wear closed-toe shoes, comfortable for walking and standing. Huntsville Hospital (Main) Tour – November 1 & 2, 9 a.m. (meet in the Main lobby) Huntsville Museum of Art Norman Rockwell Exhibit Thursday, November 30 1 – 2 p.m. Location: Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church Street, 35801 Cost: $8 (pay at the door) Join Senior Horizons members as we enjoy a docent led tour of works from American artist/illustrator Norman Rockwell. In addition to his celebrated paintings, the exhibition brings together numerous other examples of painting, illustration, and more. Huntsville Botanical Garden Walking Night Tuesday, November 21 Time: 5:30 p.m. Cost: (pay at the door) $6/HBG members and $7/non-members Galaxy of Lights is a holiday light extravaganza featuring larger-than-life animated light displays. Santa soars across a winter village, animated nursery rhyme characters entertain and the magical icicle forest twinkles in the night sky. The path is a 1.5 mile walk on paved and gravel surfaces. Wear sneakers and dress for a cool evening.
HORIZONS Holiday Card Making Saturday, November 18, 9:30 a.m. – Noon Location: Senior Horizons Office, 101 Governors Drive, 35801 Cost: $10 Reservation Limit: 14 Kick-off the holiday season with Senior Horizons member and certified “Stamping Up” demonstrator, Barbara Wilkes. Barbara will help members create homemade, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards. All the materials are of high quality and the cost includes supplies and creative kits to appeal to beginner or advanced crafters. The Greatest Showman Saturday, January 6 Cost: (Pay at the door) Matinee time, cost and theater TBA Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. Starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams and Zac Ephron. We will be attending the last afternoon matinee on a Saturday. The show time and theatre location is to be announced to those who register.
DAY TRIPS Lynchburg, TN Saturday, January 13, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $76 Known for its southern hospitality and traditional southern food, no one needs a good excuse to go to lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s in Lynchburg. We will be enjoying lunch and afterwards, a visit to the Beechcraft Heritage (Aviation) Museum. The Museum showcases a wide variety of immaculately restored vintage Beechcraft planes. Red Bay, AL Thursday, February 15, 2 – 11:30 p.m. Cost: $68 Join us for dinner and a show to celebrate Valentine’s “week.” Jason Kingsley is treasurer of a billion-dollar patent medicine corporation requiring its officers to be married. Jason claims his wife has a rare disease preventing her from entertaining or attending corporate functions. A cure is accidentally discovered in one of the company’s patent medicines, and Jason’s ecstatic boss is arriving any minute with the company doctor to administer the cure and then bask in the publicity. Jason, however, doesn’t really have a wife, which only complicates the hilarity. A tasty dinner precedes the play. Morgan County, AL Saturday, March 17, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cost: $75 Dedicated on June 29, 1996 with the arrival of the Olympic torch en route to the Atlanta Games, the Jesse Owens Museum is a tribute to the life of Jesse Owens. The Museum depicts Owens’ athletic and humanitarian achievements through interactive exhibits, rare film and memorabilia. After the Museum tour, we will have lunch at a historic restaurant in downtown and enjoy a guided driving tour.
FOUR-DAY EXCURSION Springtime in Kentucky Tour with Excursions Unlimited Dates: April 26-29, 2018 (Thursday – Sunday) Cost: $839 (double), $1,064 (single) Deposit: $100 Final Payment Due: February 1, 2018 Trip Cancellation Insurance: $75 (to be paid by separate check at the time of deposit) Highlights: Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Churchill Downs, dinner on the Farm, the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter, Dinner Cruise on the Ohio River, dinner show at the Derby Theatre, Stephen Foster’s “Old Kentucky Home” and more. Ticket price includes: tours and entertainment, nine meals, hotel accommodations, motorcoach transportation,snacks, taxes, and luggage service. Gratuities are extra.
DESTINATION TRAVEL
with Collette Vacations
Important Note: Prices include round trip air fare from Huntsville, air taxes and fees/surcharges and transfers. A $250 deposit is required to initiate the reservation process. Travelers have seven days to withdraw their reservation to receive a full refund. Prices are subject to increase prior to the time travelers make full payment. Cancellation insurance is available. Reservations are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta – Tour # 816633 Dates: October 4-9, 2018 Deadline for Deposit: April 25, 2018 Cost: $2,769 (double) Final Payment Due: August 3, 2018 Highlights: New Mexico is “the land of enchantment.” This trip includes Santa Fe, Santa Fe School of Cooking, Turquoise Trail, Balloon Fiesta, Old Town Albuquerque, National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. 6 days – 8 meals. Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park – Tour # 816584 Dates: July 22-29, 2018 Deadline for Deposit: November 14, 2017 Cost: $3,999/person (double occupancy) Final Payment Due: May 21, 2018 Highlights: Calgary, Head-Smashing-In Buffalo Jump, Glacier National Park, “Going to the Sun Road,” Banff, Glacier Experience-Skywalk, Columbia Icefield. 8 days – 11 meals United Kingdom by Rail – Tour # 816583 Dates: Sept. 15-24, 2018 Deadline for Deposit: Feb. 23, 2018 Cost: $4,249/person (double occupancy) Final Payment Due: July 12, 2018 Highlights: Ocean views, pristine farmland, British countryside, choice of London tours, Windsor or Kensington Castles York, Castle Howard, traditional English Pub dinner, Edinburgh Castle, Scottish evening, St. Andrews. 10 days – 12 meals Source | Fall 2017
25
OUT AND ABOUT WITH
What a great gift! Give a Senior Horizons membership to someone you care about. Cost is $20 for an individual or $35 per couple. Senior Horizons Benefits: Free Source magazine Free valet parking (65 years & older) Free health seminars Free photocopying Free notary services Wellness Center discount Cafeteria discount Professional motorcoach tours Social activities and day trips Destination travel and more! For more information, call (256) 265-7950 or email sharon.darty@hhsys.org.
SENIOR HORIZONS
Bill and Patsy Doty, Gary and Jan Jeter and Earl and Sherry Hokanson in Grand Canyon National Park.
Palliative Care Team Jennifer Vann, Nurse Manager, Amanda Arthur, student and Dr. Jonathan White, Medical Director with Sew Healing Volunteers Sylvia Patterson, Peggy Jackson and Martha LaFarlett.
The conductor surprising Chattanooga train travelers, Gloria Blackwell and Sidney Sexton with banjo solos.
New Members Doe Murphy and Helen Flanagan enjoying a train ride in Chattanooga.
A typical Monday morning for Sew Healing volunteers.
Delta Kappa Gamma alums preparing Christmas stockings for new babies.
Betty Johnson and Wallace Turman
Sharon Turner, Kathy Bazzell and DeEtta Collier sampling the lunch buffet in Chattanooga.
pose with Elvis at the Retirement Lifestyles Expo.
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SOURCE 101 Sivley Road, Huntsville, AL 35801
OPENING
SOON
Madison County’s first inpatient hospice facility will open on the campus of Redstone Village. 10000 Serenity Lane · Huntsville, Alabama (256) 650-1212 | hospicefamilycare.org
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