News from Weeks Medical Center

Winter/Spring 2013

2 General Surgery Pre-operative Tips

3 Urology at Weeks

4 Multi-hospital Simulator Program

5 Behind the Board with Lisa Tetrault

6 New Bed Lifts in Use

Michelle Brault/ Volunteer Services

Annual Volunteer Dinner

7 WMC Food Services Department

8 Events

Primary Care Practices & Northwoods Home Health & Hospice

Community HealthLink is published four times a year by Weeks Medical Center. For more information, visit www.weeksmedical.org or call 603-788-4911.

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General Surgeons at Weeks

Offer Advanced TechniquesAn operation, no matter how routine, can be extremely stressful for both the patient

and the family. Nobody understands this better than the surgical team at Weeks Medical

Center. Led by Drs. Maude Keeshin and Walter Voigt, the general surgery practice

prides itself in its compassion for their patients. Both doctors take the time to educate

patients face-to-face about their surgical options, preparation for surgery, recovery and

rehabilitation after surgery.

The surgical team is able to meet patient needs for both elective and emergency

surgeries. Elective surgery involves a combination of diagnostic and interventional

procedures. Generally these patients are referred to the surgical team by their primary

care provider. Emergency surgery is most often the result of a medical emergency, such

as appendicitis. These patients are often referred to the surgeons by an Emergency Room

Drs. Maude Keeshin and Walter Voigt

Pre-Operative Instructions for Patients Receiving Anesthesia or Sedation

A Same Day Surgery Nurse contacts the patient by telephone one to two days prior to the procedure. These instructions will be reviewed and the patient

will be given a time to arrive at the hospital for the procedure.

On the day of the procedure, patients check-in at the Main Entrance of Weeks Medical

Center at 173 Middle Street in Lancaster, NH.

Transportation: Patients are not allowed to drive for 24 hours after surgery or until authorized by their surgeon.

Home Instructions: Patients MUST have a ride home and should plan to have someone stay with them for the first 24 hours after surgery. Complete home instructions will be reviewed by the nurse upon discharge, including dressings, diet, activity, medications, and a follow-up visit with the surgeon.

Prior to Surgery:

NOTHING to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery.

No gum.

No hard candy.

Medication: The doctor or nurse will instruct the patient on what medications to take.

Pediatric Patients: One parent will need to remain in the hospital during the child’s procedure. Parents should bring a special blanket or stuffed animal to help comfort their child. We encourage young children to visit Same Day Surgery prior to the date of their procedure. This can be arranged by calling (603)788-5044.

Hygiene: Please plan on showering at home on the morning of surgery or the night before. Patients may also brush their teeth. Remove all fingernail and toenail polish prior to coming to the hospital. Do not wear make-up, jewelry, or a watch. Body piercings will also need to be removed.

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physician. In both cases, Weeks surgeons are

available 24 hours a day to make sure patients

receive the most immediate and advanced

treatment available.

Many of the procedures are done using advanced

laparoscopic equipment. The surgeons operate

through a small incision using slender instruments

and a laparoscope that is connected to a tiny video

camera, allowing them to perform the surgery with

the use of a monitor. These procedures are much less

invasive than traditional surgery, resulting in less

pain and a smaller incision, as well as a shorter stay

in the hospital and speedier recovery.

Drs. Keeshin and Voigt perform surgery on the

entire body with the exception of the heart, brain, and

eyes. Some of the more common general surgeries at

Weeks include:

• Laparoscopic appendectomies

• Laparoscopic removal of the gall bladder

• Breast biopsies and related procedures

• Colonoscopies

• Colon resections

• Hernia repairs

• Medi-port insertions

• Removal of skin lesions and biopsies

• Upper GI endoscopies

These are only a sample of the types of surgical treatment

performed by the general surgeons. Many of the procedures

are performed in the Same Day Surgery Unit at Weeks, with

patients returning home on the day of their procedure.

“On a daily basis, Dr. Keeshin and Voigt demonstrate

Weeks’ mission to provide clinical excellence in a caring and

compassionate environment,” says Scott Howe, CEO. “Their

commitment to advanced state-of-the-art surgery procedures

and providing personalized care close to home has earned the

trust and respect of our patients and their families, as well as

the staff at Weeks.”

General Surgeons… (continued from page 1)

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New Urologist Joins Weeks Medical TeamIt can be difficult to live with urinary

incontinence, prostate disease or sexual

dysfunction if no one knows what you’re

going through. Weeks Medical Center

patients can feel comfortable sharing

their concerns with board certified

Urologist, Dr. Russell Sarver, who is a

recent addition to the Weeks medical

staff. Dr. Sarver, who treats both adult

and pediatric patients, has been specially

trained to diagnose, treat and manage

male and female urinary track disorders

and disorders of the male reproductive

system. These areas of the body include,

kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra,

and the male reproductive organs.

For individuals who suffer from

certain bladder disorders or urinary

incontinence or leakage, Dr Sarver will do

a thorough assessment of the symptoms,

including physical exam, urine test and

check of bladder emptying. He also uses a

diagnostic procedure called Urodynamics

that assesses how the bladder performs

its job of storing and releasing urine

and can be used to determine the best

method of treatment.

Weeks offers both non-surgical and

surgical treatment options for patients

suffering from urinary incontinence.

One of the non-surgical treatments is

called Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. The

treatment consists of eight visits where

the patient has biofeedback monitoring

to evaluate strength and endurance

of the pelvic muscles. Counseling is

provided on how to ensure patients

are isolating the pelvic muscles versus

the abdominal muscles. There are also

several medications to treat the problem.

In some cases, Dr. Sarver can perform

an outpatient procedure where he inserts

a sling to hold the urethra and bladder

neck in place, offering support that

can dramatically improve a patient’s

quality of life. For patients suffering from

severe urinary frequency, Dr. Sarver may

recommend an outpatient procedure

called Urgent PC Neuromodulation which

delivers nerve stimulation to the nerves in

the pelvis that control bladder function.

“Many individuals believe that an

overactive bladder is a normal part of

the aging process,” notes Dr. Sarver.

“Changes in urinary habits can be

indications of serious health concerns

that require immediate care,”

For men who have been diagnosed

with enlarged prostates or benign

prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) where oral

medication isn’t effective, Dr. Sarver

performs a procedure called Transurethral

Microwave Thermal Therapy that is a

relatively simple outpatient procedure.

With the aid of a urinary catheter, a tiny

antenna is inserted into the urethra. The

antenna delivers microwave energy to

heat and destroy the overgrown tissues

while avoiding damage to normal tissue.

Other urological disorders that Dr.

Sarver treats include:

• Urinary cancer

• Prostate cancer

• Kidney stones

• Kidney tumors

• Bladder stones

• Erectile dysfunction

• Vasectomies

For more complicated surgeries or

procedures where a specialist is required,

Dr. Sarver typically refers his patients to

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

in Lebanon.

Dr. Sarver received his medical degree

from Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson

Medical School University of Medicine

and Dentistry of New Jersey. He

completed his internship and residency

at Arizona Health Science Center and

completed a fellowship in General

Urology and Renal and Pancreatic

Transportation at Virginia Mason

Medical Center in Seattle, WA. He also

practices at Littleton Regional Hospital.

Gina Bedell, ARNP, Dr. Russell Sarver and Raylene Degreenia, MA

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In the North Country health care institutions and local

emergency management services routinely face and respond

to the shock of major accidents and medical emergencies. In a

medical emergency, a positive outcome for the patient depends

on the training and effective response of the medical team.

It is critical to provide these medical professionals with more

opportunities to apply their hands-on skills in a variety of

trauma and acute medical situations, particularly as a team.

The concept for the Northwoods Center for Continuing

Education (NCCE) started approximately two years ago when

Weeks Medical Center began the application process with the

American Heart Association

(AHA) to become a

designated training

center.  This concept

further developed when

Weeks started a regional

paramedic training program

to address the State of NH

EMS requirements for the

Paramedic Interfacility

Transfer (PIFT) program.   In

2012, representatives from

Weeks contacted White

Mountain Community

College, Upper Connecticut

Valley Hospital, Androscoggin Valley Hospital and Coos County

EMS services to request support for the development of the

Northwoods Center for Continuing Education (NCCE) to be

located at Weeks Medical Center’s Whitefield Physician’s Office.

This new Center will serve the educational and training

needs of each hospital, EMS services, other healthcare

institutions, and the northern region of the state. Over twenty

other regional healthcare organizations have expressed their

support of the program and will refer students for training

and recertification.

Through recent generous grants totaling $221,500 from

the Gladys Brooks Foundation ($100,000), Tillotson Fund

($60,750) and Jane’s Trust ($60,750), a state-of-the-art

simulation laboratory is being created at the Center. This

funding will allow the Center to purchase four wireless

human-like simulation models.

Advanced computer-based medical simulation is a training

and feedback method in which medical professionals practice

tasks and processes in life-like circumstances using high-tech

simulation models. Medical simulators are used to teach new

skills or procedures and to test competencies to improve

quality of care and reduce errors. Simulation training can

be of great value in helping professionals work as a team.

It improves essential communication and coordination skills

and effective team treatment. Medical simulators also allow

individuals to review and practice procedures as often as

required to reach proficiency.

An important partner

in this venture is White

Mountain Community

College. The college

recently received a federal

grant for development of

simulation training and

the purchase of a mobile

teaching vehicle with

two classrooms. Because

the simulation models

are portable, there will be

opportunities for courses to

be moved to multiple sites

throughout the region,

using either White Mountain Community College’s mobile

classroom or Weeks’ Emergency Crisis Trailer.

A Program Coordinator will work closely with regional

continuing education coordinators, identifying needed

curriculum and courses for area healthcare providers. The

teaching teams will consist of physicians, registered nurses

and paramedics who have set a high standard for training

in the North Country for hundreds of hospital-based and

EMS providers.

“When fully operational this summer, this collaborative

regional training program will have an enormous impact

in strengthening quality healthcare delivery to all patients

in the North Country, “says Scott Howe, CEO of Weeks

Medical Center. “It will give our medical professionals more

opportunities to advance their skill training and increase their

hands-on experience.”

Medical Collaborative to Build Simulation Lab to Advance Quality Healthcare in the North Country

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Weeks Medical Center is fortunate to have a large group of

dedicated volunteers, but it’s hard to imagine a more genuinely

enthusiastic and sincerely devoted hospital ambassador than

Lisa Tetreault. When discussing Weeks and her involvement, she

talks in glowing terms about the medical staff and employees,

administration, Board of Trustees, and how critically important the

hospital is to the community.

Tetreault has a lengthy history with Weeks, both personally and

professionally. She was born at Weeks and grew-up in Groveton

and both her children were also born at the hospital and her

mother was a nurse’s aid for 3 years. Professionally, she has been a

member of the Board of Trustees for 17 years, first serving as Board

Chair from 2004 through 2006. Her current term as Chair ends in

December of this year. Over the years, she has held every office on

the Board and is currently Chair of the Executive Committee, Joint

Conference Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. She

is also a member of the Finance Committee, Ethics Committee and

Nominating and Bylaws Committee.

Tetreault says that every new Board member goes through

rigorous training before even agreeing to be on the Board. Potential

members meet with the Board to learn more about what is expected

of them and the time commitment. They spend a day in the hospital

meeting with department heads and are given extensive literature

about the hospital. Board members are asked to serve a minimum

two-year term.

According to Tetreault, the thirteen-member Board is unusually

dedicated and has the best interest of the hospital at heart. One of

the strengths of the Board is that their members represent many

of the communities that the hospital serves and they offer a wide

range of professional expertise. It’s the overall responsibility of the

Board to assist with the long-term viability of the hospital. In her

lengthy tenure on the Board, she has witnessed the opening of the

Whitefield and Groveton physician offices and, most recently, the

purchase of the Hospital’s latest physician office in North Stratford.

She’s particularly excited about the recent collaborative

partnership between Weeks, Androscoggin Valley Hospital and

Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. According to Tetreault, the goal

is to share services, facilities, technology, and staff in order to provide

the highest quality care while streamlining costs. “Because the

North Country is an economically challenged area, it is important to

increase access to everyone living in the region and to make sure all

three hospitals are able to sustain operations and meet the needs of

their patient populations.”

She feels the hospital is one of the area’s biggest assets. Tetreault

adds “For a small, rural hospital, Weeks offers exceptional healthcare

services and employs hundreds of medical and non-medical

professionals who add tremendously to the area’s economy. They are

totally dedicated to the hospital’s mission and are like a big family

with many employees having worked there for 20 plus years. I also

have tremendous admiration for Scott Howe and the management

team. They are completely committed to providing excellence in

healthcare and creating a positive working environment.”

Tetreault lives in Groveton with her husband, David. Her

daughter, Stacey Dubois, is the New Hampshire Fire Marshall for

Coos County and has one daughter and another child on the way.

Her son, Jeffrey, recently graduated from Johnson State College with

a degree in Music Engineering and a minor in Marketing. Tetreault

works full-time as Director of Group Sales at The Mountain Club on

Loon where she handles all of the corporate business functions. She’s

also on the Board of the Northern Gateway Chamber of Commerce

in Lancaster and is active with the Eagles Club, American Legion and

the VFW.

With enthusiastic and hardworking volunteers like Lisa Tetreault

helping to guide the future direction of the hospital, Weeks can look

forward to a continued long and successful future providing the very

best healthcare to individuals and families in the North Country.

Behind the Board

Lisa Tetrault…Long Time Advocate for Excellent Community Health Care

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Upcoming Annual Dinner to Recognize Outstanding Volunteers

Every spring the staff at Weeks Medical Center hosts an annual dinner to thank the hospital’s many volunteers who are a vital part of the Weeks community. This year’s dinner celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 23rd from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Col. Town Community House in Lancaster.

One of the highlights of the dinner is the naming of the recipient of the Mel Gallup Memorial Award for Outstanding Volunteer Services. The award honors the memory of Mel-bourne James Gallup, an outstand-ing hospital volunteer, who passed away in 1982. Each year a selection committee reviews the recommen-dations put forth by hospital em-ployees. From this process, a finalist is chosen. Last year’s recipient was Jean Tenney who has volunteered at the hospital for over 30 years.

For more information, please con-tact Margo Cliche at 788-5221.

Weeks Auxiliary Donates Three Patient Lifts to HospitalAs a result of recent fundraisers, like the annual Golf Tournament, the Weeks Auxiliary has

donated $27,000 for the recent purchase of three patient lifts for the hospital. These medical

devices provide many benefits, including reduced risk of injury to patients and caregivers.

The lifts are designed to lift and transfer patients from one place to another and allow easy

access to beds, chairs, toilets, and bath. The patient lift can also be used for patients who are

unsteady on their feet to assist them in walking. “As daily caregivers, we are very appreciative

of the auxiliary’s generous gift which fits perfectly with the hospital’s mission of providing

safe and effective health care,” says Rebecca Sayre, Medical-Surgical Department Manager.

Front row—Nurse Claire Brasseur; In swing - Auxiliary Vice President Ben Stinson; In red, Rebecca Sayre; Back row—Casey Dowland, Auxiliary President Patricia Cotter, Chris Raymond; Middle row—Sharon Thurston, Lisa Hampton, Sharon Atkinson, Ann Gilbert, Marilyn Foss; Front row—Ginny Gainer, Gretchen Muzzey

Volunteer Services Department Names New AssistantMichelle Brault has recently been named Assistant in

Weeks Volunteer Services department. Previous to joining

Volunteer Services, Michelle had worked in the Admitting/

Communications department since 2007. She grew up in

Gilman and graduated from Lyndon State College in 2005 with

a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing.

Michelle lives in Bloomfield, Vermont with her husband and

20 month old son, Caiden, and enjoys traveling and camping.

If you would like to be part of our team of volunteers, please

call 788-5221.

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For most people the thought of a stay in the hospital can be

extremely intimidating and thinking about hospital food can

add to that anxiety. But it doesn’t take long when talking with

Lise Potter, Manager of Food Services, and Mike Holland, Chef, to

understand that Weeks’ Food Service Department is far from your

typical “institutional” operation.

Quality food and service innovation have been a major focus at

Weeks for many years. The days when a patient was served three

standard meals a day have been replaced with a multi-menu service.

When a patient is admitted to the hospital, they receive a visit from

the dietician

to discuss meal

options. In addition

to the regular

menu that typically

offers six entrees

and daily specials,

patients who have

health issues,

like heart disease

or diabetes, are

offered alternative

menus in keeping

with their dietary

requirements.

While the

hospital has a

standard patient

survey that rates

the food service,

Potter makes a point of visiting 16 patients a month to get

personal feedback about the service and how they can make

improvements. She says that over the years the ratings have

dramatically improved and today 83% of patients give the

food an excellent rating.

For employees and visitors to Weeks, the hospital’s cafeteria

has also undergone changes in menu and presentation and like

patient meals, most food is prepared from scratch. Breakfast,

lunch and dinner (Monday thru Friday) are provided daily

with a wide variety of hot meals, sandwiches, salads and soups.

A particular favorite are Holland’s soups. According to Potter,

Holland, who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is

a master at taking leftovers and turning them into amazing soups.

Potter speaks highly of her team of eleven highly trained

and dedicated professionals. When she joined the hospital

twelve years ago, she says the department was larger because

each employee had a specific job. Today all employees are

expected to multi-task which makes the department much

more efficient. “This is the most productive team the hospital

has ever had,” notes Potter. Many members of the team have

lengthy tenure with Carl Morel having the record at 25 years.

Catering is another important role of the department with

a lengthy list of events such as medical meetings, employee

barbeques, staff

recognition

celebrations,

volunteer and

auxiliary dinners,

annual meetings,

and children’s

ice cream socials.

The department

also provides

Thanksgiving and

Christmas dinners

to the community

and senior meals

are offered

twice a month

in Lancaster

and Jefferson

at a minimal

cost. Weeks also

partners with the UNH Cooperative Extension to offer a six-week

course twice a year called Cooking Matters to educate families

about healthy eating.

Planning and preparing over 43,000 meals a year requires

expert logistics. Potter and Holland share the responsibility of

scheduling and food forecasting, ordering food, quality control

and food safety, employee training, and menu preparation.

While Weeks can’t necessarily make a person less anxious about

a stay in the hospital, they have gone a long way in making their

meals a genuinely good “food experience” and something for a

patient to look forward to on their road to recovery. And the staff

doesn’t have to leave work to enjoy one of the North Country’s

“hot dining spots.” Bon Appetit!

Food Service Department Receives High Marks for Quality Meals and Innovative Service

Bottom row, l. to r: Amanda Brown, Gail Beroney, Nancy Robinson, Paula Howland & Amy Pinette. Top row, l to r: Carl Morel, Gwen Stewart (RD),  Lise Potter (Manager), Mike Holland (Chef) & Brittany Doolan. Missing from photo: Kirsten Kingsley

www.weeksmedical.org

Events

Weeks Medical Center’s Primary Care Offices

MarchRoger Irwin Photo ExhibitCurrent photo exhibit at Weeks Medical Center in the main lobby hallway is by local photographer Roger Irwin.

AprilGroveton High School Student Art ExhibitDuring the month of April, a special exhibit of artwork created by Groveton High School students will be on display in the main lobby hallway. The artwork will be auctioned off in May to benefit the Weeks Relay for Life team.

Tues., April 16th, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Wed., April 17th, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.Weeks Auxiliary Book FairWeeks Medical Center, Dining room hallway, Lancaster, NHThe public is welcome.

Wed., April 17thWeeks Annual Meeting5 p.m. – 7 p.m.Take a hospital tour and enjoy light refreshments provided by the Weeks Food Service during this fun and informative evening. For more information, call Kathy St Onge at (603) 788-5026.

Tues., April 23rdVolunteer Appreciation Dinner5 p.m. – 8 p.m.Col. Town Community House, 10 High St., Lancaster

MayThurs., May 23thFri., May 24thA Taste of HealthcareAll Day Weeks Medical Center Hospital, Lancaster, NH

Local students from White Mountains Regional and Groveton High Schools come to Weeks Medical Center to learn about potential careers in healthcare.

JuneSat., June 1stWeeks Auxiliary Annual Golf TournamentRegistration: 7:30 a.m.Shotgun start: 8 a.m.Waumbek Country Club, Jefferson, NHThis years proceeds from the golf tournament will go toward purchasing equipment for the hospital. For more information, contact (603) 788-5023.

Wed., June 19thWeeks Auxiliary Uniform Fair7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Weeks Medical Center, Dining room hallway, Lancaster, NHThe public is invited.

Be sure to visit the Weeks website for the latest Events and more! www.weeksmedical.org

Lancaster Physicians Offices170 Middle StreetLancaster, NH 03584603-788-2521Toll Free 1-888-779-3539

Groveton Physicians Offices47 Church StreetGroveton, NH 03582603-636-1101Toll Free 1-888-880-6371

Whitefield Physicians Offices8 Clover LaneWhitefield, NH 03598603-837-9005Toll Free 1-888-905-6933

North Stratford Physicians Offices43 Main StreetNorth Stratford, NH 03590603-922-5039

Northwoods Home Health & Hospice278 Main Street Lancaster, NH 03584 Toll Free 1-800-750-2366

Northwoods Home Health & Hospice120 Main Street Colebrook, NH 03576 Toll Free 1-800-750-2366