Welcome to Centra Today!
June is here which means the summer days that are full of thunderstorms, trips to the lake, watermelon-eating and evenings at the ballpark have officially begun!
While some of us may try to embrace a slower pace during the summer months, there is still an abundance of exciting and inspiring work happening across Centra. From a cutting-edge clinical trial to well-being initiatives aimed at prioritizing our strategic theme of “People First,” this month we are highlighting the many ways that you, our Caregivers, are working to make our vision of pursuing excellence, inspiring hope and advancing health and healing a reality for our communities.
Keep scrolling as you won’t want to miss each of this month’s stories including a special edition of “My journey into healthcare” that’s honoring one physician’s 42 years of dedication to caring for her community!
First in Heart
Innovation Close to Home
Dr. Matthew Sackett, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and his dedicated team from Centra’s Heart & Vascular Institute have achieved a significant milestone by implanting the first patient in Virginia with the Integra D device as part of an ongoing clinical trial.
This innovative device, designed to assist patients with congestive heart failure, uniquely combines the impulse dynamics of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). So far, less than 50 patients have received the device worldwide.
Traditionally, congestive heart failure patients require both a defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death and a separate CCM device to enhance cardiovascular function. The Integra D device streamlines this process by integrating both functions into a single, rechargeable unit, thereby reducing the need for multiple surgeries and extending the device's usable lifespan.
Centra is among the 75 cardiovascular centers participating in the trial and has been allotted four devices for implantation. The trial, which encompasses between 200 and 300 implants globally, involves a two-year follow-up period to gather comprehensive data. While final results will not be available for a few years, early results have been promising.
In April, Centra’s first patient, Angela Woody, became the inaugural recipient of the device in the commonwealth. Just one month post-implantation, she has reported noticeable improvements in her condition, such as reduced shortness of breath when going up stairs and walking.
The ideal candidates for the Integra D device are those suffering from congestive heart failure who continue to experience symptoms despite medication. Dr. Sackett is optimistic that the trial will pave the way for this innovative technology to become a standard treatment option, offering new hope and improved quality of life for countless individuals battling congestive heart failure.
Caring for People Who Care for People
Strategy in Action
As a part of our strategic theme of People First, Centra strives to support and nurture our people while creating an environment where every Caregiver is valued, connected to purpose, finds and shares joy in their work. One way teams are working to advance this strategic theme at Centra is through ongoing well-being initiatives aimed at both providers and Caregivers.
One such initiative first launched in May 2020 when Centra Medical Group (CMG) partnered with the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and the Vital WorkLife/SafeHaven (VWLSH) program to offer well-being services for physicians and advanced practice providers. These services include:
- 24/7 mental health access, with unique state approved protections from discovery and reporting to the medical board
- Peer coaching for leadership development and stress management
- Personal and family counseling
According to Dean Gianakos, MD and Vice President, Chief Academic Officer at Centra, “CMG was the first program in the country to form this unique collaboration with MSV and VWLSH, and the program has since spread to many other states!”
Additionally, the Provider Engagement Steering Committee was recently formed with the goal of improving clinician engagement across Centra. The committee will analyze data from the Clarity surveys which assess an organization’s readiness for change, burnout, engagement and other measures. The analysis will be used to develop strategic priorities and action plans to advance clinician engagement at CMG and Centra.
Speaking to Caregiver well-being initiatives, Tiffany Lyttle, BSN, RN, PCCN and Patient Education and Nurse Wellness Coordinator at Centra shared,
“As a baseline, we monitor well-being indicators from engagement data derived from the Clarity and Press-Ganey Engagement Surveys. Compared to national data, we have scored very well around well-being and reasonable stress, agility, readiness and endurance.”
These positive scores can likely be attributed to how Centra has prioritized specific wellness offerings for Caregivers such as:
- Code Lavender Carts and Code Lavender Response Teams
- Mindstrong
- Leadership Support Training
- Chaplain Rounding and Music Therapy
- The Oasis at LGH
As we look to the future, Centra remains committed to advancing our People First values, ensuring that every Caregiver feels supported and empowered to deliver exceptional care.
My journey into healthcare…
By Janice Luth, MD
In honor of Dr. Janice Luth’s upcoming retirement from CMG Village, we asked her to share with us how she ended up in the field of medicine along with some of her favorite anecdotes from her 42 years of practice.
No one in our immediate family was involved in healthcare, but my mom was known as “the bird lady” in our suburban neighborhood because all the kids would bring her the injured birds, squirrels and chipmunks that were found in the woods near our house. She would try valiantly to nurse them back to health, but I don’t think we had many successes.
However, I think those lessons in compassion stuck with me all my life, and I think that’s where my interest in healing probably started! When I was around 12 years old, my beloved grandfather developed cancer, and one of his doctors was a woman (which was very rare in those days), so I knew it was possible for girls to grow up to be doctors.
He passed away when I was 16, and that same year I really started thinking about what my calling in life would be. Should I become a writer, a teacher, a mathematician or a lawyer? I knew I had an aptitude for science, and as I was mulling over careers in scientific fields, I thought maybe I could be a doctor, and I knew immediately, like a bolt of lightning, that that was the right choice for me.
From that day forward, my whole life was geared toward becoming a physician. I chose the University of Virginia for college because their graduates had the highest chance of being accepted to medical school. Once I got into school (once again at UVA), I found that I just loved every aspect of medicine–from pediatrics to orthopedics–which made becoming a family physician a no-brainer!
I first came to Bedford Memorial Hospital in 1980, working on weekends in the emergency room while I was completing my residency training in Roanoke. One of my preceptors at the residency was Dr. Dave Brechtelsbauer whose practice was in Moneta. When his partner in the practice decided to move on, he needed a replacement, and I came in as a temporary doctor while my husband was finishing his PhD at Virginia Tech.
Needless to say, I was captivated by the rural lifestyle, the hospitality of the community, and the sense that I was really needed, and within a few months, that temporary job became my life’s work. I never considered any other location or position. I also fell in love with Bedford because I could deliver babies, care for heart attacks, sew up chainsaw wounds, visit nursing homes, and care for children and adults in the office–sometimes all in the same day!
Our practice became a part of Centra in 2009 when the stresses of electronic records and billing became too much for us to handle as an independent group, and we have been very grateful that Centra took over those management burdens!
My favorite memories are all about my patients which makes it hard to choose just one. However, one of the most gratifying was finally delivering a squalling baby after 23 hours of labor. Others that rank among my favorites include providing care to two young children who are the fifth generation from their family that I’ve cared for and seeing an elderly patient on his 90th birthday and asking him jokingly, “so how old are you today?” and his answer with a twinkle in his eye being, “not a day over 79!”
My sister, Dr. Kathryn Sparhawk, and I once bartered to provide pregnancy and delivery care for a Mennonite patient in exchange for two full-sized quilts that she made for us as payment for her care!
Over the years, I have become a trusted part of so many families’ lives, and the relationships that I’ve built remain, even now that my doctoring years are coming to a close. There is almost never a time that I go to the grocery store or Walmart that someone doesn’t say hello or tell me I cared for their grandmother or delivered their son who’s now in his 30s. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to care for so many!
CentraCares
Gerri & Her 5A Tree
We use this section of Centra Today to share about how you are going the extra mile to care for one another and our communities. This month’s story about the team that works on the fifth floor of the A Tower (former East Tower) is no exception!
The team on 5A is fortunate to have an environmental services tech that is well-loved. According to Patty Woconish, a MET RN on the unit, “Gerri Belton is a hard worker with a heart of gold.” Regarded by the unit’s staff as a friend, she represents Centra with pride when she speaks kindness into the lives of patients and families that she interacts with.
Knowing that Gerri was born and raised in Belmont, New York and that she has a deep love for horse racing, the staff of 5A recently decorated their “holiday tree” for Gerri in honor of the Kentucky Derby. While she wasn’t able to make it to Churchill Downs this year, the team wanted to celebrate Gerri and her love for the horses, jockeys, handlers and owners with the tree that was topped with a wide brimmed hat!
In the words of Patty, “The staff of 5A know Gerri and horse racing is in her blood,” and they went the extra mile to recognize Gerri’s contributions that help to make their unit one that is filled with an atmosphere of kindness.
Do you have a story to share about how one of your fellow Caregivers is going above and beyond to care for their team or serve their community? Email corporate.communications@centrahealth.com to nominate them to be featured!
A Place of Hope & Healing:
Honoring the Legacy of VBH’s Architect
As we celebrate the centennial year of Virginia Baptist Hospital (VBH), we’re honoring different aspects of the hospital’s history with various themes. June’s theme is focused on the architecture of the hospital and its museum! You may or may not have known that VBH has a museum that features displays about its history including its college of nursing and pioneering work related to neonatal care.
Recently, additional exhibits and features have been added to the museum that will be revealed during the VBH Centennial Celebration which is being held on July 12. The new exhibits will feature new facts and individuals from VBH’s extensive history, one individual being Stanhope Johnson who was the principal architect for Virginia Baptist Hospital.
Johnson, who was a native of Lynchburg, has had over 700 building projects attributed to him with over half located in Lynchburg. However, his work was not limited to central Virginia–his projects covered a multi-state area that included much of the east coast and stretched as far as Texas.
With a career that spanned over 65 years, Johnson was known for utilizing Georgian Revival style, characterized by symmetry, porches, latticed windows and classical detail elements that were popular in the early 20th century. The architect resided near VBH in a home on Link Road that was named Brookside.
To learn more about Johnson and other individuals who have helped shape Virginia Baptist Hospital into the landmark of hope and healing that it is today, be sure to visit the museum when it re-opens on July 12!
2024 Centra Hospital Week Recap
Thank you for joining us for Hospital Week 2024! We had so much fun celebrating, YOU, our Caregivers.
Click here to watch the recap video of the week!
Centra is proud to sponsor Cancer Awareness Night at the Hillcats on June 15!
All Caregivers are eligible for discounted tickets to enjoy an evening of fun as we celebrate the strength of survivors and advance the fight against cancer through awareness, all while cheering on our hometown team!
Click here to purchase discounted tickets!
Mission Moment
By Jacob Brumfield, RN, MSN
At Centra, we proudly uphold our mission of “improving the health & quality of life for the communities we serve.” Every team member plays a vital role in this endeavor, and I am fortunate to contribute to the organizational mission through my role as Director of Critical & Intermediate Care at Lynchburg General Hospital.
I have the privilege of serving some of the most phenomenal Caregivers that provide direct nursing care here at Centra. It was honestly difficult when transitioning away from direct patient care to maintain a clear picture of how I continued to impact the lives of our patients. It took time for me to acknowledge this transition and to understand my new purpose. I now understand and embrace that my impact focuses on supporting those that continue to serve in direct clinical roles.
In my role, I work towards fostering a positive culture within our nursing units and overall organization. A positive work environment is essential for the well-being of our staff, which in turn improves the quality of care we provide for our community. By promoting a supportive and collaborative atmosphere, I help ensure that our team remains motivated and engaged, enabling them to deliver exceptional care and services.
Active listening is another contribution of my role. By truly hearing the concerns and suggestions of both our staff and the community members we serve, I can better understand their needs and address them effectively. I strive to utilize open communication to build trust and strengthen relationships, which is fundamental in supporting an effective team.
Removing barriers is also a key contribution. I strive to identify and eliminate barriers to support smoother operations for our team members and to eliminate waste. Lastly, advocacy is at the heart of what I do. I advocate for our staff, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to perform their duties effectively. Through advocacy, we can drive meaningful change and continuously improve the care we provide.
By fostering a positive culture, actively listening, removing barriers and advocating for our staff and community, I strive to support Centra’s mission and the difference it makes in the lives of those we serve. I would like to close by saying thank you to Centra for allowing me to serve in my Director role, and I also want to say a very special thank you to the our nursing Caregivers that allow me to serve them every day. The impact that they have on bettering our community’s health and outcomes is truly remarkable. To lead is to serve!
Thank you for reading June's edition of Centra Today!
We love receiving your feedback about the meaningful stories we aim to share each month. If you have a story idea for a future newsletter, please email corporate.communications@centrahealth.com