New department open

New department open

AKRON

Akron Children’s Hospital’s new Emergency Department, at 177 W. Exchange St. on the first floor of Akron Children’s Kay Jewelers Pavilion, opened today. The public ED entrance is off Exchange Street just west of Locust Street. Free valet parking is offered. Signage and a roadblock will direct patients from the old ED entrance on Locust Street to the new ED entrance.

The new ED, which is open 24/7, has 20 private rooms, 11 fast-track rooms for minor injuries and illnesses, a three-bed trauma suite and five private rooms for patients in behavior/mental health crisis.

The ED phone number is 330-543-3000.

New technology

NILES

Blue Sky Therapy, in partnership with Spectra, a San Francisco technology company, has launched the first HIPAA secure, care communication technology for skilled nursing at Shepherd of the Valley in Niles.

This technology directly connects clinicians with patients and their families to improve patient transitions and outcomes through streamlined communication between care teams and activation of patient families. It is simple and easy to use to coordinate care milestones, home assessments and discharge exercises — all being communicated in one central and secure spot, officials said.

John Chapman Award

YOUNGSTOWN

Mercy Health Youngstown, formerly Humility of Mary Health Partners, will receive the Ohio Hospital Association’s (OHA) top award for environmental leadership, the John Chapman Award, on June 9 during OHA’s annual meeting in Columbus.

The John Chapman Award recognizes one hospital or healthcare system each year for outstanding achievements in reducing the organization’s ecological footprint. Humility of Mary Health Partners, now Mercy Health Youngstown, has implemented programs and practices that save water and energy, reduce waste, promote recycling, prevent hazardous materials from being placed in landfills, reduce emissions and increase access to healthy foods, especially in food deserts.

Also, Mercy Health Youngstown hosts seasonal farmers markets to ensure patients, employees, visitors and residents of surrounding neighborhoods have easy access to fresh, locally grown produce, meats and dairy products.

Replacement program

WARREN

ValleyCare Health System of Ohio has established the comprehensive Center for Joint Replacement Program at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Based on a national best practice model for hip and knee replacements and structured around the fundamental principles of wellness, the program has a customer service focus and is aimed at giving patients the knowledge and tools to make the transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible, and is created to change the way patients and their families think about and experience hip and knee replacement surgery.

Before surgery, patients attend a preoperative class where they receive information on what to expect before, during and after their joint replacement surgery. They are encouraged to have a friend or family member act as a coach as they go through the joint replacement process, beginning with the class and continuing through the recovery process, said Dr. Tom Jones, orthopedic surgeon and a member of the medical staff at TMH.

The Center for Joint Replacement is also offering free, educational seminars every Thursday beginning Thursday. For information on the program or seminars, call the joint care coordinator at 330-841-9162.