And now ... Ohio Living

And now ... Ohio Living

COLUMBUS

Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services has changed its name to Ohio Living. As a result, Lake Vista of Cortland is now Ohio Living Lake Vista, Park Vista of Youngstown is Ohio Living Park Vista and Senior Independence’s new name is Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice.

Quality care recognized

AKRON

Akron Children’s Hospital has been redesignated as a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program. The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice.

Akron Children’s is one of only 34 pediatric Magnet hospitals nationwide and one of 28 Magnet hospitals in Ohio. The Magnet redesignation reflects the excellence of patient care provided at all Akron Children’s Hospital locations, including its Beeghly campus in Boardman, said Lisa Aurilio, vice president of patient services/chief nursing officer at Akron Children’s Hospital.

Flu season has begun

COLUMBUS

Flu season has officially begun in Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 6 months and older get the flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu viruses.

In Ohio, flu season begins in October and runs through spring, with cases typically spiking between December and February. Ohio’s flu activity currently remains sporadic, meaning that there have been only a small number of confirmed influenza cases across the state.

“Influenza vaccination is the safest and most effective way to fight the flu, and October is the perfect time to get vaccinated,” said ODH Medical Director Dr. Mary DiOrio. “Flu vaccination is especially important for older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications,” she said.

Dr. Sondike joins ACH

AKRON

Dr. Stephen Sondike recently joined Akron Children’s Hospital as director of Adolescent Medicine. He replaces Dr. James Fitzgibbon, who has held the director position since 1980. Dr. Fitzgibbon will continue to see patients in Akron Children’s Adolescent Medicine Clinic.

Most recently, Dr. Sondike was section head of Adolescent Medicine at West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston. He also served as medical director of the WVU Disordered Eating Center of Charleston and director of the university’s adolescent cardiovascular program.

Eating disorders in adolescents and teens, and pediatric and adolescent obesity are among Dr. Sondike’s special areas of interest and scholarship.

Akron Children’s set for 2017 expansion

AKRON

Akron Children’s Hospital will break ground in February on a 230,000-square-foot addition to its seven-story Considine Professional Building, 215 W. Bowery St., across from the main hospital building. Construction is scheduled to be completed in April 2018.

The addition will bring together all of Akron Children’s outpatient clinics and programs in downtown Akron. In addition to consolidating outpatient programs located in the main hospital, the Locust Professional Building and elsewhere, the addition will help meet the demand for more physician office space and streamline wayfinding for patients.

Expanding the professional building will bring Akron Children’s mental health programs, which have been several blocks away, back on campus and will consolidate outpatient laboratories. The change also will provide entrance-based check-in and registration.