August 2021: Survey seeks health-care input

                                  

The following press release was prepared and distributed in early August 2021 on behalf of Oaklawn Hospital of Marshall, Michigan. ...

~ Survey seeks area residents' views about Calhoun County health-care needs ~ 

Adult residents of Calhoun County, Michigan, are being asked to participate in a survey to determine regional health needs.

The online survey – part of the ongoing Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) – stems from a partnership among Bronson Healthcare, Oaklawn, CareWell Services Southwest (Area Agency on Aging) and the Calhoun County Public Health Department, with support from the Coordinating Council and Population Health Alliance.

Those who wish to complete the survey may find it at www.research.net/r/CalhounCoHealth.

Survey responses are being gathered through Aug. 29 and are made voluntarily and anonymously. Participants must be 18 years old or older to complete the survey, which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Under guidelines established by the Affordable Care Act, nonprofit hospitals and other community organizations have conducted similar assessments every two to three years, allowing health-care leaders to develop a snapshot of major local needs.

“Our goal is to collaborate on an inclusive assessment of community health,” said Nicole DuPont, who is director of strategic development for Summit Pointe, Calhoun County Community Mental Health Authority, and operations lead for The Coordinating Council.

“This survey collects community data to illuminate the most pressing health needs of the community and identify any gaps in services and health inequities,” DuPont said. Data collected can be used to maximize resources and develop a comprehensive action plan for improving health countywide, she said.

Survey results are expected to be made available and shared broadly in the community within the coming year.

DuPont said the assessment's methodology provides insights for health-care leaders to develop measurable strategies designed to address the social determinants of health and attain more equitable outcomes.

“Critical to this process is the community voice, which uplifts concerns shared by residents about their own health and the places where they work and live,” she said.

“After the survey is concluded, the work doesn't end,” said Irene Johnston, MSN-RN, who serves as Oaklawn's director of quality, safety and risk. “Oaklawn and other Calhoun County health-care organizations go to work to try to meet the needs that are identified.”

For example, she said, a similar past survey helped to determine that an urgent-care clinic was a significant need in the Albion community. Subsequently, Oaklawn Express Care was established in early 2019.

Such a result illustrates an important aspect of the assessment process, which is intended to prioritize and magnify the needs of vulnerable populations, DuPont said.

“This unique collaboration allows us to approach the work in a more cohesive fashion, leveraging collective resources with community partners, in order to reimagine how to achieve better health outcomes,” she said.

June 2021: The Gillettes meet Mr. Holmes

On June 27, 2021, the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park offered an exclusive event to its members and visitors to the Connecticut park -- a meeting between the Castle's residents, William and Helen Gillette, and one of their favorite people, Sherlock Holmes.

Beginning in the late 19th century and continuing for many years, Gillette had portrayed the great detective on stage, on radio and in a silent film. This special presentation imagined Holmes stepping from the world of the imagination to greet the Gillettes as a guest visitor to their estate. 

For the occasion, William Gillette was portrayed by Harold Niver and his wife Helen by Theodora Niver. Holmes was portrayed by John C. Sherwood. The performance was presented near the Castle on three occasions, and the video offered here is of the day's final performance.

To view the 26-minute video, Click here (doing so will open a new window). Otherwise, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxACsUCkgHs.

MysteryVisits Communications was honored to provide Mr. Holmes's appearance for this event. To learn more about the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, Click here (doing so will open a new window). Otherwise, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: http://www.gillettecastlefriends.org.

June 2021: Amy Traxler joins Oaklawn

During June 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Nurse practitioner Amy Traxler joins Oaklawn's After Hours Express – Marshall ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – The kindness a medical professional who also was a family friend had a profound effect on Amy Traxler as she grew up in her hometown of Camden.

As a result, today she credits her friend for having inspired her own work as a nurse and family nurse practitioner, a career she continues as a new member of the staff of the Oaklawn Medical Group's After Hours Express – Marshall.  

Traxler will be seeing patients at the service's office at 1174 W Michigan Ave. Appointments aren't necessary because of the nature of the service. Further information is available by calling (269) 789-4390. 

Traxler was a senior at Camden Frontier High School with a strong interest in becoming a teacher in the special-education field. That changed, however, because of her experience with a close friend of her family.

“I've known her my whole life, and she worked in one of the practices where I had been a patient as a teen-ager,” Traxler said. “She helped treat me. She was very kind and I loved her approach as a nurse.” 

Traxler said she was grateful that she made the switch from education to medicine. 

“It was the best course to take,” she said. “I'm so glad that I did.” 

Traxler received an associate nursing degree from Battle Creek-based Kellogg Community College in 1998, first serving with the Community Health Center of Branch County. She later worked as a staff nurse for medical organizations in Hillsdale and Sturgis. 

From 2007 until recently, Traxler has worked as a surgical-pediatric staff nurse, registered nurse case manager and family nurse practitioner, chiefly for medical organizations in the Coldwater area. 

In 2013, Traxler earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Goshen College in Indiana, and went on to obtain a master of science degree through the college's family nursing practitioner program in 2016. 

Traxler is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and holds additional credentials in basic and advanced cardiac life support and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Traxler, who has resided in Coldwater since 2020, has three adult children – a son, Wesley, 26, and two daughters, Hope, 22, and Cassie, 21. She also has two grandchildren.

Her hobbies include caring for her Great Dane puppy, Ellie, as well as flower and vegetable gardening, baking, walking, kayaking and travel.

“My goal is to go to all 50 states,” she said, adding that a favorite travel location is Alaska, where her brother lives.

“It's absolutely beautiful and peaceful there,” she said.

In considering her new assignment, Traxler said she has been drawn to Oaklawn's level of medical professionalism. 

“I like the community hospital setting in a small town,” she said. “I've been very impressed with everyone with whom I've come into contact. I'm greatly looking forward to this opportunity to transition to something new.” 

June 2021: Hiren Patel joins Oaklawn

During June 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

Relatives' plight inspired 'Hiren' Patel to pursue career as rheumatologist

MARSHALL, Michigan – As Hirenkumar “Hiren” Patel was growing up and attending school in India, he had no idea that he would become the first in his family to become a physician.

A family medical challenge led the young man to consider and pursue a career as a rheumatologist – a practice he now has continued for nearly two decades, most recently as one of the newest members of the Oaklawn medical team.

As of early July, Patel will be based in Suite 1E in the Marshall Primary Care Office in the Wright Medical Building, 215 E. Mansion St. Appointments are to be made through referrals from primary-care or other physicians.

Like many others who find themselves propelled into medical careers, Patel's story began with his observation early in life of an affliction affecting the lives of others.

Patel was a student at D.N. High School in Anand – a town in the western state of Gujarat in India – during the time that two of his cousins were struck with severe rheumatic disease.

“I watched them suffer because they had severe joint pain in their hands and knees,” he said. “At the time, there was no rheumatologist in our area. There was nothing in the entire state that offered the kind of medical help they needed.”

Patel was about 15 years old at the time. The experience compelled him to learn more about the area of medicine that might have helped his cousins, he said.

“I wanted to learn why this condition happened and to go to medical school to learn all the new advances,” he said.

In so doing, he received unquestioning encouragement from his family.

“In India, doctors are highly respected,” Patel said. “In a lower- to middle-class family in India, a good education is the most important thing to help people move forward. Because my parents always emphasized education from the beginning, I always had a lot of support.”

While in India from 1999 to 2002, Patel served as a volunteer in a World Health Organization polio-immunization program, a government-operated school health program and in earthquake relief operations.

Meanwhile, Patel pursued medical studies at Gujarat University's B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, receiving a bachelor of medicine/bachelor of surgery degree in 2003.

After moving to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen, Patel pursued his residency in internal medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital in the state of New York, completing the program in 2008.

Patel went on to become chief resident in primary care at Northport (Virginia) Medical Center, then undertook a fellowship in rheumatology at the Stony Brook hospital and worked as a rheumatology physician at a Florida-based arthritis and osteoporosis treatment center.

Patel comes to Oaklawn after having served as a rheumatology physician for the Parkview Physicians Group in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he now resides.

Patel has been certified in rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine since 2008. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology and is licensed to practice medicine in Michigan, Indiana, Florida and New York. In addition to English, he speaks Gujarati – the dialect of his native state – as well as Hindi.

In his spare time, Patel enjoys listening to music – especially of the “Bollywood” variety – and cooking spicy food. In sports, he prefers watching American football as well as cricket.

He and Nikita Patel, his wife of 18 years, have two daughters – 14-year-old Niya and 9-year-old Risha. He said that, once their children have completed their school year, the family will consider moving to the Marshall area.

“I have passed through Marshall and stopped there many times while traveling to visit family members in Michigan,” he said. “It's convenient, and Marshall has the sort of rural setting that I enjoy.”

In fact, Oaklawn's broad service area – ranging from Calhoun County into neighboring countries – helped Patel in his decision to join its medical team.

“It's a large-draw area that serves a lot of patients, as I've done in Fort Wayne,” he said. “That's what I like.”

May 2021: Old theaters remembered

What a joy it was on the evening of May 24, 2021, to join a group of friends in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a nostalgic tour -- remotely -- of the city's myriad theatrical offerings over the past 120 years. All in less than 90 minutes! 

In addition to being the onetime Cereal Capital of the World, the historical record shows that Battle Creek also was a notable place for cinematic entertainment. There were good reasons for that, generally because of the affluence generated by the cereal industry, as well as the presence of a huge military base and a U.S. Army hospital. 

We touched on many high points and even some low ones. Our own brief visit to the local porn theater -- for rather magical reasons -- produces some chuckles here.

Many thanks to our knowledgeable fellow panelists -- especially our esteemed friend and former journalism boss Michael McCullough -- for a great conversation!

To watch the show, click on the phrase "View the program" ... Or cut and paste this URL into your browser: https://fb.watch/5I4ttM5FjA/

May 2021: Oaklawn's high rank

During May 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Oaklawn among 21 Michigan hospitals to receive highest federal ranking ~

MARSHALL, Michigan – Oaklawn is one of 21 hospitals and health systems in Michigan and 455 such institutions nationwide to earn five stars – the highest possible – in the latest ranking from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

This is the second year in a row that Oaklawn has received the distinction, which was first awarded to Oaklawn in 2016 when the federal agency initiated the star-rating system.

Under the current ranking system, the single composite grade reflects a broad range of measures of quality in five categories – patient experience, readmission rates, safety of care, mortality and timely and effective care, said Irene Johnston, Oaklawn's director of quality, safety and risk.

The new ranking is the first star-ratings update since January 2020, showing results for 3,355 hospitals and health systems nationwide, she said.

Of those, 455 received a five-star rating, 988 received a four-star rating, 1,018 received a three-star rating, 690 received a two-star rating and 204 received a one-star rating. More than 4,500 U.S. hospitals were examined in all, and many did not receive star ratings.

Hospitals report data to the agency through the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, Hospital-Acquired Condition (Reduction Program and Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, Johnston said.

The public may view overall hospital ratings at Medicare's Hospital Compare website, found at www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare.

“Receiving this ranking is a validation of our work over a long period of time,” said Oaklawn President and CEO Gregg Beeg. “It's very gratifying that those efforts are noticed in this way, because every day we do whatever is necessary to make things even better.”

“Oaklawn employees have pride and every one of them does what he or she can to help our mission come to fruition – that is, striving for perfect care every time,” Johnston said.

“Throughout the past year, we have had challenges as many others also experienced,” she added, “but our community helped hold us up and keep us strong to keep fighting the pandemic and challenges head-on.

“As a result, we can continue to be here and exceed our mission to provide personal, accessible and high-quality care to improve the health and well being of the communities we serve,” Johnston said.

May 2021: Oaklawn's new CMO

                                    

During May 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Dr. J. Summer Liston-Crandall named Oaklawn's chief medical officer ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – J. Summer Liston-Crandall, M.D., has been appointed Oaklawn's new chief medical officer, effectively immediately.

The announcement was made by Oaklawn President and CEO Gregg Beeg.

Liston-Crandall, a family-medicine physician, is a Kalamazoo-area native who joined Oaklawn’s active medical staff in July 2007.

In recent years, Liston-Crandall has served as Oaklawn's interim medical director, as a member of its Physician Leadership Committee and physician lead for its COVID-19 Response Team. She also has served on Oaklawn's Medical Executive Committee and as chief of staff.

“Her skills and experience as a family medicine with obstetrics provider as well as physician leader will be a tremendous asset for us from both a clinical and operational perspective,” Beeg said in a statement to Oaklawn employees.

“Dr. Liston-Crandall will serve 50 percent of her time in the chief medical officer role and the other 50 percent of her time caring for her patients that she has served for the past several years,” he added.

Liston-Crandall works out of two offices of the Oaklawn Medical Group – Marshall Primary Care in Suite 1E of the Wright Medical Building at 215 E Mansion St., Marshall, and the Tekonsha office at 2218 Old U.S. 27 North.

In January 2014, Liston-Crandall became the third recipient of Oaklawn’s Physician of the Year Award. The award was established to recognize a physician who has demonstrated their commitment to Oaklawn Hospital’s culture and values and to the community.

Liston-Crandall earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard and Radcliffe colleges and medical degree from the University of Michigan. She completed a family-medicine residency at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland, Oregon.