Patricia A. Keefe, M.D., a general surgeon has been appointed to the Parkview Adventist Medical Center Staff.
Before beginning her work in Maine, Keefe practiced with SJ Surgical Associates in Nashua, New Hampshire. Her surgical experience includes duty at various US Army hopsitals including service with the 758th Forward Surgical Team in Afghanistan and with the 745th Forward Surgical Team in Iraq. She also gained experience as both an educator and administrator during assignments at Reynolds Army Community Hospital at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell, KY.
Dr. Keefe is a graduate of WPI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute in MA and was awarded a certificate of Public Health from Harvard University extension school in Cambridge, MA. She earned her Doctorate degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD in 1999. Keefe served a General Surgery Internship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX where she was named the Department of Otolaryngology’s Intern of the Year. Dr. Keefe’s Residency took her to the Pacific at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI, followed by assignments at Reynolds and Blanchfield Army Community Hospitals, where she served as Chief of General Surgery Service and as General Surgeon.
“We are very excited to have Dr. Keefe’s international expertise here at Parkview,” said Randee Reynolds, President and CEO of Parkview Adventist Medical Center. “Dr. Keefe’s military experience and attention to outstanding service will be an absolute asset to the Brunswick community which has long ties to the military,” Reynolds added.
Through her 14 year career in surgery, Dr. Keefe has collected an impressive list of honors and recognitions including: the Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Spurs-Awarded by the 2nd Battalion, 7th US Cavalry in Iraq; plus the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Combat Medic Badge.
Dr. Patricia Keefe’s office is located at 331 Maine Street, Suite 6 and her office number is: (207) 607-4136
For Immediate Release Contact: Tory Ryden
March 27, 2013 Phone 207.373.2160
Parkview Receives GOLD STAR and Special Recognition for Tobacco Free Policies and Smoking Cessation Program
Brunswick, Maine, March 27, 2013 –Parkview Adventist Medical Center has been honored once again with the Gold Star by the Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network for “Leading the way to Healthier Communities” at the group’s annual awards ceremony in Augusta. Parkview was one of 13 hospitals in Maine to receive this distinction. “I am proud of the work that we do each day to provide quality healthcare to our patients in an environment that promotes the Tobacco-free message, “said Randee Reynolds, President at Parkview Adventist Medical Center. “Parkview was founded on the principals of wellness and our mission speaks clearly to the importance of not only living a healthy lifestyle, but providing a healthy environment for our patients and employees,” Reynolds added.
In addition to the Gold Star, Parkview and its ”Breathe Free” Program, championed by Dennis Farley, of Parkview’s Cardio-Pulmonolgy department, were also singled out as one of five Gold Star Champion Honorees. Breathe Free is a multi-week smoking cessation program that has helped many in the Greater Brunswick region permanently stop using tobacco. A form of the program has been in existence at Parkview since the hospital’s beginnings in 1959.
Parkview received the two top awards during a special Wednesday morning program at the Maine Hospital Association in Augusta. Among the other four programs awarded the Gold Star Champion Honorees: Laird Covey, outgoing President of Central Maine Medical Center, Carolyn Burgess from Goodall Hospital, Jim Fortunato from RFGH, the Be Tobacco Free Program at SMMC, the Works on Wellness Council (WCGH), and Barbara Perry from MaineHealth.
Learn more about the MTFHN Gold Star Standards of Excellency by visiting: www.MaineTobaccoFreeHospitalNetwork.org
Dust off your golf clubs and start practicing your putting as you enjoy your favorite tv show or an evening in front of the fire.
The Parkview Golf Classic is just 12 weeks away!
The date for the 2013 Parkview Classic is Tuesday, July 9th at the Brunswick Golf Club. Brunswick Manager and Pro AJ Cavanaugh is already working hard on all the details to make this year’s tourney one for the record books!
And, mark your calendars for Thursday June 6th. This is the first year for our WARM UP 9-Holer which takes place one month before the big Classic.
The Parkview WARM UP will be played at The Highlands Golf Course. Space for this one is limited!
We will be offering the following great deals:
1. Parkview Golf Classic ONLY: $100 per golfer
2. Parkview WARM UP ONLY: $30 per golfer
3. COMBINATION Golf Classic and WARM UP: $125 per golfer
Fliers will be going up and letters going out very soon. In the meantime, if you’d like more information or would like to get a jump on things and sign up NOW, please contact Tory Ryden at (207) 373-2160…or email at tryden@parkviewamc.org **Ask any golfer who’s played this one and they’ll tell you it’s an event NOT to be missed!!!
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups – porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: “Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.
Parkview has launched the DAISY Awards program at the hospital. The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skills and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Parkview is proud to be a DAISY award partner and will recognize a Parkview nurse with this special honor twice a year. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. The family wanted to honor the nurses who helped to ease Pat’s discomfort and who offered him care and compassion.
So, do YOU know of a special nurse who embraces the following criteria:
*Compassionate and empathetic care provider
*Embodies the true meaning of nursing
*Goes above and beyond what is expected of him/her
*Treats his/her patients as if they were family members
*Leads by example; inspires others to care
*Listens to his/her patients with an open heart
Nurses at Parkview and within offices at the hospital, as well as nurses in Brunswick and Topsham who work at Central Maine Healthcare offices will be included in the DAISY program.
If you know a nurse who fits this description, please contact Niki Yeaton, RN, ED Nurse Manager at (207) 373-2383 or by email at nyeaton@parkviewamc.org
THE SAYING ‘THINK GLOBALLY AND ACT LOCALLY IS ALIVE AND WELL
AT PARKVIEW AS THE HOSPITAL HELPED Q 97.9FM SMASH ITS GOAL
OF COLLECTING 500,000 RETURNABLE CANS AND BOTTLES DURING
THIS YEAR’S ‘CANS FOR A CURE’ CAMPAIGN. D-J’S JEFF, LORI AND
MEREDITH WELCOMED THE CREW FROM PARKVIEW, WHO HAULED
MORE THAN 5,000 CANS AND BOTTLES COLLECTED DURING A MONTH
LONG LOCAL ‘CANS FOR A CURE’ FUNDRAISING EFFORT. “THIS WAS
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING,” SAID NIKI YEATON, MANAGER OF PARKVIEW’S
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. “ONE OF MY STAFF, BECKY, LOST A FRIEND
TO BREAST CANCER NOT LONG AGO AND MENTIONED THE IDEA OF
HELPING THE Q IN THEIR EFFORT TO COLLECT CANS AND BOTTLES TO
RAISE MONEY FOR THE MAINE CANCER FOUNDATION. I MENTIONED IT TO
A COUPLE PEOPLE AT PARKVIEW AND THE IDEA JUST TOOK OFF!”
WEARING PINK TEE SHIRTS WITH “CURE ME” ON THE FRONT AND
“PARKVIEW CANS FOR CURE” ON THE BACK, THE FOUR DROVE DOWN
TO THE MAINE MALL WHERE Q 97.9 HAD BEEN CAMPED OUT ALL WEEK.
ONCE THEY ARRIVED, THE Q CREW INTERVIEWED THE FOUR LIVE ON THE
RADIO. DURING THE INTERVIEW, SUSIE SHARPE, A FORMER PARKVIEW
EMPLOYEE, CALLED TO DONATE $1,000 FROM HER HARPSWELL THEATRE
GROUP WHO WANTED TO DONATE IN HONOR OF THEIR FRIEND WHO
PASSED AWAY FROM BREAST CANCER. “I HEARD MY PARKVIEW FRIENDS
ON THE RADIO AND JUST KNEW I HAD TO HELP OUT THE Q’S CAUSE!”
SHARPE TOLD THE Q. MOMENTS LATER, THE Q CREW ANNOUNCED
THAT THEY HAD SMASHED THEIR GOAL AND THAT PARKVIEW WAS THE
REASON!
The Pastoral Care Office at Parkview Adventist Medical Center is holding a Celebration of Life for Parkview Volunteer Roland Bouchard who passed away last week.
The Celebration is Wednesday, August 29th at 1pm in the Wellness Confrence Room.
It is with great sadness that I share with you the following news:
Roland J. Bouchard, our dear friend and member of the Parkview
family, passed away today at 12:19pm from complications due
to lung cancer.
Roland wasn’t just our friend, he was a devoted volunteer and expert
grammarian who could challenge the best of us to write better, speak
better and always carry a smile on our faces. To say that Roland was
one of a kind is an egregious understatement. No one here at Parkview,
it seems, was exempt from Roland’s expectation for excellence, nor his
unbridled charm. When there was a need, just about any need for the
service of a volunteer, Roland was the first to show up and often the last
to leave. His commitment to Parkview, and that includes each and every
individual here at the hospital, was unparalleled. It can not be overstated
that Roland truly considered Parkview, this hospital, his home filled with
members of his precious family. He could not walk down the hallways,
any hallway here, without stopping and talking with our staff and employees….
you and me. He always had a joke or a kind word that he’d share, ALWAYS
with a twinkle in his eye!
Roland will be sorely missed around here; but he won’t ever be forgotten.
Three weeks ago we threw Roland a “We Love You, Roland” party, and boy,
did he light up at that! It was a surprise and I do believe I caught a tear rolling
down Roland’s cheek. He loved each and every minute of the attention, the
love, the hugs…did I mention the hugs? Roland was in his glory. We have
beautiful photos from that party to add to the photo album we gave him. Many
of you signed a book of memories; for those who didn’t get the chance, we will
make sure you can when we set up a table out in the hall sometime next week.
A very special THANK YOU goes out to everyone who helped care for, pray for,
or visit with Roland, particularly the past couple of weeks. I cannot tell you how important
that was to him. He absolutely FELT the love. But, an ENORMOUS
thank you goes out to Bob Murphy…Nurse Bob in the ED. Like he has been for the
past two years of Roland’s deteriorating health, Bob was with Roland today when
he left this world. Bob has been an amazing friend. The ULTIMATE friend to Roland.
So be sure to give Bob a hug or a pat on the back when you see him. We are indeed
a family here at Parkview and we need to continue to rally behind one another and carry
on in the tradition of the inimitable Roland J. Bouchard: try our best with a smile on our
faces.
We love you, Roland and hope to see you again! Tory Ryden
Director Community Relations/Marketing
Parkview Adventist Medical Center
329 Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine 04011
T: 207.373.2160 F: 207.373.2209
Central Maine Bariatric Surgery will present an informational seminar featuring
bariatric surgeons and other members of the bariatric surgery program’s professional
staff. They will provide a general overview of obesity and weight loss surgery options.
The program will include a question and answer session.
Seminar Locations and Times:
Lewiston
12 High Street Medical Office Building at CMMC
Chairman’s Conference Room , Lower Level
First Wednesday or third Monday of each month
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Topsham
Topsham Family Medical Building
4 Horton Place, Conference Room
The State of Maine, like much of the country, is experiencing a higher than normal rate
of pertussis cases, also known as whooping cough. On Thursday, July 26th, Dr. Larry
Losey, Chief of Pediatrics at Parkview Adventist Medical Center, was interviewed by
WCSH News Reporter Vivien Leigh about the importance of vaccinating children against
Pertussis.
Dr. Larry Losey
Dr. Losey told Leigh the most critical time to vaccinate children is when they are
babies, as their small bodies have difficulty fighting off the illness. Whooping cough is
identified by a trademark cough that grows worse over time and can last 6-10 weeks.
Losey says young babies are susceptible because the cough can be so intense, they may
not be able to catch their breath. Antiobiotics taken early in the illness can lessen the
symptoms.
The majority of cases have occurred in school aged children and teenagers. The upper
respiratory illness is highly contagious. Dr. Losey says anyone taking care of young
children should get a whooping cough booster shot.
Dr. Losey: Named Maine’s “Childhood Immunization Champion” for 2012 by
CDC
In Spring, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control honored 39 Physicians around the
US as “CDC Childhood Inmmunization Champions”. Dr. Losey was the ONLY
Maine Physician to receive this honor. Dr. Losey was cited for his tireless drive and
passion in pushing for lawmakers to ensure that every Maine child will receive full
immunizations.
In the late 1990s, when Maine’s funding for childhood immunization was in jeopardy,
Dr. Larry Losey, Chief of Pediatrics at Parkview Adventist Medical Center in Brunswick,
Maine, drew upon his prior experience working in private health insurance to create
and spearhead a unique funding mechanism to bridge the funding gap so that Maine’s
children could continue to receive recommended vaccines. For seven years, he diligently
led this effort that brought together the private and public sectors. In 2008, Dr. Losey
received the “Director’s Award, Maine Immunization Program” for this and his other
dedicated efforts.
Dr. Losey has also worked to reach and educate more Americans about the importance
of childhood immunization. He has written newspaper articles to promote immunization
nationwide, and he helped launch the “Medical Minutes” radio program, which airs on
several top stations in Portland, ME. Dr. Losey’s segments on childhood immunizations
not only raise awareness among listeners in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, they
also reach immunization-averse populations.
As a result of his dedication to the childhood immunization cause, Dr. Losey was
nominated by the governor to sit on the Maine Vaccine Board, the formation of which
was the first step toward creating a sustainable, universal, childhood immunization
system for the state.
For the extraordinary measures Dr. Losey has taken over 30+ years to ensure that every
child in Maine, from birth to age two, is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,
CDC is proud to name him a Childhood Immunization Champion.
Parkview Classic Golf tournament, sponsored by the Friends of Parkview Adventist Medical Center Auxiliary on Tuesday, July 10th.
Nearly 100 golfers of all levels traversed the rolling 18-hole green, navigating water
hazards, sand traps and ‘forests’ on either side of the green. “What a fantastic day,”
remarked Randee Reynolds, interim President at PAMC. “The spirit here, the energy, it’s palpable. The sun’s out, everyone’s happy. This is a day to remember!!”
And, indeed it was. From the start, when Brunswick Pro A.J. Cavanagh welcomed
golfers and set out the rules for the Scramble, also known as best-ball, in which all
golfers in a foursome all hit from the tee and then from the best successive ‘lie’. WGME
News 13 Anchor Jeff Peterson, for the 5th straight year served as Emcee alongside his
former co-Anchor at WMTW Channel 8 Tory Ryden, who is now Director of Marketing,
Community Relations and Development at Parkview. “Jeff adds a really fun element to
the day! We are so fortunate that he is willing to lend us his talent, his humor and his
caring to Parkview,” Ryden commented. “We played together last year and this year.
We went home with trophies for 3rd place last year. This year? Not so lucky! But we
sure had a blast!”
“I love coming out to this event each year,” Peterson admitted. The weather was perfect,
the people were so friendly and the vegan options at lunch were delicious!” An important
detail for Peterson who became a Vegan in January. In the six months since, he has lost
more than 35 pounds and his bad cholesterol is at an all time low: “lower than when
I was a teenager!” He credits the Parkview program, ‘LifeStyle Choices’, for helping
to transform him. Peterson embraced the Vegan program when he chronicaled it for a
Healthy Life Style series he worked on for the February TV News Sweeps period on
WGME News 13. “Too bad this ‘new’ me didn’t walk off with a 1st place trophy this
year! There’s always next year!” Peterson quipped.
Friends of Parkview Auxiliary President Cheryl Monat reported the 2012 tournament a ‘big success’—on the financial end and the community end. “This event really rallies the Mid Coast community to come together, have fun and support an amazing hospital.
Parkview has been here for more than 53 years, serving the region in a way, a very special way that is unique to Parkview. The spirituality and caring that goes into treating the Parkview patient should be applauded!” Monat said. “The volunteers and Parkview
employees who, year in and year out, give selflessly in pulling off these golf tournaments are the stars. They are the big winners. I wish I could give each of them a 1st place trophy to take home with them!”
Parkview would like to thank all of the sponsors and golfers who turned out to make the
11th Annual Parkview Classic a day to remember!
Oh Yummy Fudge, oh yummy fudge
How lovely are you eaten
Oh Yummy Fudge, oh yummy fudge
Oh how you love my taste buds.
You come along and make me smile
You cheer me up when in denial
Oh Yummy Fudge, oh yummy fudge,
How lovely are you eaten.
~ John Henry
AND IS IT NOT TRUE THAT FUDGE IS BETTER EATEN THAN SET ON A SHELF TO BE LOOKED AT?
THE JUDGES OF THE SECOND ANNUAL PARKVIEW FUDGE CONTEST, SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF PARKVIEW AUXILIARY, ALL NODDED IN UNISON WHEN POSED THAT QUESTION. THOSE LUCKY JUDGES: THE VENERABLE VOLUNTEER ROLAND BOUCHARD, EPICURIAN AUXILIARY MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER VICTORIA ROBERTSON, AMIABLE VOLUNTEER ALISHA HAMILTON AND THE EVER EFFERVESCENT PT REHAB GURU KAREN CHAMMINGS.
ALL FOUR ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE THAT OTHERS WOULD COWER IN FEAR IN A CORNER TO AVOID: TASTE, NIBBLE, DELIGHT IN DELICIOUS FUDGE AND THEN VOTE ON THEIR FAVORITES. NOT AN EASY TASK WHEN THERE WERE 17…THAT’S RIGHT….17 DIFFERENT KINDS OF FUDGE!! “AND EVERY PIECE WAS A DELIGHTFUL MORSEL OF HEAVEN!” ROLAND BOUCHARD WAS OVERHEARD SAYING. SMILES ON ALL FOUR FACES, SEVERAL CLOSED THEIR EYES AS THEY TASTED ONE PIECE AFTER ANOTHER, SIPPING WATER IN BETWEEN TO CLEANSE THE PALATE. AUXILIARY MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE SUE MARLEY PROVIDED THE LAUGHS AND THE GOOD LUCK CHICKEN APTLY TITLED ‘ME WANT FUDGE’ ON THE SIDELINES TO HELP CHEER THE TASTE TESTERS ALONG. “THAT’S MY FAVORITE, YES, THAT ONE,” VICKI ROBERTSON WHISPERED. THEN, MOMENTS LATER SHE FOLLOWED UP WITH, “NO, THIS ONE. THIS IS DEFINITELY IT!”
THE FUDGE, WHICH VARIED FROM DARK CHOCOLATE TO PEANUT BUTTER TO VANILLA AND CHEESECAKE, WAS LOVINGLY BAKED BY AMBITIOUS PARKVIEW EMPLOYEES. AFTER TASTE TESTING ALL 17 VARIETIES, JUDGES FILLED OUT THEIR OFFICIAL BALLOTS. WHEN VOTES WERE TABULATED, THE JUDGES FACED SUGAR SHOCK (AGAIN) WHEN IT WAS DEEMED THEY’D HAVE TO RETASTE FOR A TIE BREAKER.
THE JUDGES DID WHAT ANY TRUE SOLDIER WOULD DO: THEY BELLIED UP AND FORCED MORE CHOCOLATE DOWN. WE OWE THE FOUR JUDGES A SALUTE AND OUR HEARTY THANKS FOR THEIR SELFLESSNESS IN THE FACE OF FUDGE BATTLE.
TO THE WINNERS, THE SPOILS!! SUE MARLEY, A COSTUME DESIGNER ON THE SIDE, CREATED A LOVELY WINNER’S CROWN FOR THE FIRST PLACE PRIZE AND ADORABLE ITTY BITTY RUNNER UP TROPHIES. COULD THERE REALLY BE A LOSER WHEN IT COMES TO AMAZING FUDGE?
HEREWITH, THE WINNERS OF THE 2ND ANNUAL PARKVIEW FUDGE CONTEST:
Tory Ryden…first place winner….. with her delicious BlueBerry Cheese Cake Fudge
Marsha Penhaker….second place winner…..with her delightful white chocolate peppermint walnut fudge
Gil Michaud and his gang…..third place winner….with his delectable Chocolate Fudge
THE FUDGE THAT THE JUDGES JUST COULDN’T WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH WAS WRAPPED UP AND SOLD IN THE AUXILIARY MAY BASKET SALE. THESE WERE BEAUTIFUL BASKETS MADE BY STUDENTS AT PINE TREE ACADEMY. THIS IS ONE HUNGRY, OR REALLY SMART STAFF! EVERY PIECE OF FUDGE WAS SOLD WITHIN TWO HOURS! $250 WAS RAISED BY THE 2ND ANNUAL PARKVIEW FUDGE SALE AND EVERY PENNY WENT TO THE AMAZING FRIENDS OF PARKVIEW AUXILIARY WHICH HAS PAID FOR ALL OF THE RECENT RENOVATIONS AROUND THE HOSPITAL INCLUDING: THE FRONT LOBBY, THE WAYFINDING SIGN IN THE FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL, THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WAITING AREA, THE MED SURG/ICU WAITING AREA AND THE CAFETERIA AND OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS. KUDOS TO ALL THAT THEY DO AND KUDOS FOR ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING PART IN THE GREAT FUDGE CONTEST AND SALE! GET THOSE FUDGE RECIPES TOGETHER NOW! WE’LL SEE YOU FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL FUDGE CONTEST AROUND MAY DAY 2013!
“I would like to personally thank Dr. George Cancel and the entire ER staff last night for helping stitch my 13 year olds lip back together. Dr. Cancel and staff took the time and had the patience to reattach the two parts of his lip flawlessly. It’s caring and helpful staff that set this apart from other facilities. Once again thank you Dr. Cancel and ER Staff for another JOB WELL DONE!!!” – Dan posted on Parkview Hospital’s Facebook Wall.
Parkview Adventist Medical Center offers refresher courses in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
These courses are offered frequently throughout the year and are held at the Topsham Medical Office, 4 Horton Place, Topsham.
You may register for an online BLS certification course atwww.onlineaha.org.
If you opt for the online course, you will need to purchase a key code. The cost is $17.50 for a key code at www.onlineaha.org, using a credit card.
At www.onlineaha.org, there is a link on the left side of the home page under “Healthcare” for BLS. You will need to select “BLS for Healthcare Providers Online part 1″ with the product code #80-1055.
The online course is the equivalent of the video that you would watch during a regular course. After the presentation, you will take a quiz. If you pass the quiz, you will be prompted to print a certificate of completion.
Please bring this certificate to a Certified AHA instructor for a skills session.
If you have any questions or need help with anything, please call Brandi Tainter at 373.2358 or e-mail:btainter@parkviewamc.org. Select any of the following links to download brochures, schedules and a registration form.
Parkview is proud to accept the Maine Tobacco Free Hospital Network Gold Star Standards of Excellence Award for a second year.
“In recognition of agency dedication to excellence in healthcare and tobacco-free living by implementing a 100% tobacco-free policy and providing key community supports to ensure patients, staff and visitors have the access and means to live tobacco-free.”
One day last August I was enjoying lunch in the cafeteria with several staff members. At one moment I incidentally mentioned that I was feeling a little soreness in my chest. One member quickly and firmly insisted that I report to the Emergency Room to have it checked out. Although it seemed to me that was not necessary, the tone and persistence of the suggestion could not be ignored. In a matter of minutes I was lying on a bed in the E.R. and within the hour the doctor approached me and pointed to the x-ray where a cancer tumor was clearly visible. My reaction at that moment was vague. It was several hours later that I fully comprehended the seriousness of the cancer, and decided to deal with it bravely. The detailed, lengthy, and expansive preparation went forward and on September 29th the surgeon cut in deeply and widely and removed half of my left lung, which shielded the cancer. Healing proceeded miraculously well and several weeks later began the radiation treatments, which distracted me considerably. As we all know the effects of radiation can be discomforting. Almost daily, good folks would ask me how I was feeling and my only response was “exhausted.” I must have uttered the word 100 times per week. Gradually, I began to feel better. During this entire period I was so very fortunate to have dozens of staff members show and express genuine concern for my well being. Here are some examples: several visited me at the hospital and at home; transportation back and forth to Portland, Scarborough, Bath, and to the grocery store was provided without my asking. (It would have been a feast for taxi companies.) The hospital administration sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, which uplifted my spirits enormously. At home, I received a multitude of “get well” cards, there were 71 and many contained several signatures. The messages were personal and moving. Finally, I’m not certain I deserved such profound attention. All I can say is that I was deeply stirred by the genuine affection from all which, made my recovery more easily manageable.
I take this space and this moment to immensely thank all of you who joined and hastened my recovery. You have become my Parkview family.