Centra Today September

Welcome to Centra Today!

As the crisp air of fall starts to greet us in the mornings and our calendars fill with the season’s events, we’re excited to share the many wonderful things happening across Centra!

With the 50th anniversary of the Virginia Ten Miler just around the corner, we’re spotlighting one Caregiver who’s set to run the course for the 50th time—a milestone that’s nothing short of inspiring. Plus, you won’t want to miss a heartwarming story about VBH’s Auxiliary, which has been a steadfast source of support for the hospital and its patients for nearly 70 years.

In addition to these stories, we’re thrilled to highlight cutting-edge technology that will enhance care for our cancer patients, as well as the free Narcan training Centra offers to our community. These stories, along with many others, showcase our team’s daily dedication to our vision of “pursuing excellence, inspiring hope, and advancing health and healing.” We hope you enjoy reading and feel as inspired as we do!

50 for 50

Lindsay Beebe's Journey into Healthcare

I have been a nurse for 18 years, and I have always had a passion for the geriatric population. I started on the Orthopedic Unit as a CNA and nurse extern, then was an RN there for many years. I also gained experience running the Joint Replacement Program for OrthoVirginia.

I spent eight years working at Guggenheimer as the Assistant Director of Nursing and later the Director of Nursing. One of our units was a dementia and mental health unit that housed 30 long-term care patients that Dr. Peter Betz saw on a regular basis. During this time, I developed a strong working relationship with him and decided to leave my role as a director and return to bedside nursing where I cared for Dr. Betz’s patients on the Geriatric Psychiatric Unit at Virginia Baptist Hospital (VBH).

My desire to enter the field of nursing originated while I was in high school. During this time, my grandmother became ill, and I spent some time in and out of the hospital with her. I was always so impressed with the nurses and the level of compassion and care that they provided to my grandmother. I could see at that young age that they were helping others and making a big difference in the lives of their patients, and I knew that I wanted to be a nurse that serves and helps others just like them.

I love being able to take care of others, be their advocate and support them in their time of need. Specifically, I love mental health, especially when it comes to the elderly, and I feel that mental health does not get the proper attention that it needs due to negative stigmas. I work very hard along with my coworkers to break down those walls and help educate patients, families and our community on the importance of proper mental health and how it is just as important as physical health. The community needs to know and understand that mental health matters.

In the theme of mental health, I feel it is very important for nurses to find a good outlet for the stress that we carry from our demanding line of work. During my time in nursing school, I worked as a Floor Guard at FunQuest where I was on the speed team there as a child and then played roller derby as an adult.

These days, my outlet is running. I am not fast by any means, but I have endurance, heart and determination and I know I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to. No goal is too big or too small. My running friends are some of the best people from all walks of life.

I run with a group called “Running with Coach K” that is led by Keith and Susan Coalson. This group encourages each other and pushes each other to be the best humans that we can be. Susan and Keith are some of the kindest and most selfless people that I have ever met.

They have not only built a strong and supportive running community for Lynchburg, but they also find ways to get our group involved with different projects like picking up trash and trimming back overgrowth on sidewalks to volunteering with Meals on Wheels. The list could go on and on.

This year our goal as a team was to celebrate the Lynchburg Running Community and the 50th anniversary of the Virginia 10 Miler in the best way we know how–to run! There is a small group of us from the running group that are going to be running the 10-mile course for the 50th time this year on the race day. This is our way of honoring the 50th anniversary and what it means to our community!

Ready To Act

CentraCares: Free Narcan Training for Our Community

As we observe September’s National Recovery Month, we’re shining a spotlight on Centra’s commitment to combating the opioid crisis through the free “REVIVE! Opioid Overdoses and Naloxone Education” Training that’s provided to our community in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health.

The collaboration between Centra and the Virginia Department of Health began when instructors from Centra’s Authorized American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center became certified REVIVE! Instructors. The strong relationship between Dr. Kerry Gateley of the health department and Centra’s Training Center laid the foundation for this initiative. Through this partnership, participants not only receive life-saving training but also leave with Narcan Kits to use in emergencies.

The training is designed to be accessible and practical for everyone. The class provides a thorough definition of addiction, explains what opioids are, identifies signs of an overdose and offers guidance on responding to opioid-related emergencies. By the end of the session, participants possess the confidence and knowledge needed to safely administer Narcan in a life-threatening situation.

Since its inception, the demand for these classes has grown significantly. Initially offered quarterly, the sessions have expanded to one to two times per month. To date, around 500 individuals have completed the training through Centra.

Despite the increasing awareness, there are still several misconceptions about Narcan. One of the most persistent myths is that overdose victims will become combative upon being revived. While this is possible, it’s rare. The training covers safety precautions but emphasizes that aggression is uncommon. Another misconception is that Narcan itself is addictive. In reality, it is not habit-forming and poses no risk of dependency.

As Centra continues to offer this free training, we’re helping to build a more informed and prepared community—one that is ready to act when it matters most.

Centra’s Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center Enhances Patient Care with Cutting-Edge Radiation Technology

Innovation Close to Home

In an effort to continually provide innovative care to our patients, Centra’s Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center recently purchased a new linear accelerator.

This radiotherapy system, known as the Varian TrueBeam, offers increased precision and decreased treatment times. Its meticulous technology strengthens our ability to utilize different treatment modalities while delivering tailored interventions that are unique to each patient. Additionally, its fast treatment times and enhanced imaging help us improve outcomes and the patient’s experience during radiation therapy.

The Varian brand is a frontrunner in the world of radiation therapy, which means Centra can provide the communities of central Virginia the highest quality radiation treatment possible without the inconvenience of traveling to a larger city for treatment. The machine also possesses a respiratory gaiting system which facilitates precise tumor targeting while sparing surrounding healthy tissues and structures.

Amanda Bruffy, Director of Radiation Oncology and Oncology Nurse Navigation at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center explained, “We can treat a left sided breast cancer while the patient takes in a deep breath, which inflates the lungs and increases the distance between the tumor and the heart while receiving radiation. The therapists walk the patient through this intricate treatment to ensure the treatment beam is directed at the target area during inspiration, when it is farthest away from vital structures.”

She went on to say, “This is called Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Treatment, typically used for left sided breast cancers but with this technology we can treat additional body parts with tumors that can be moved with respiratory gaiting.”

Centra’s cancer center maintains a timely replacement schedule of its radiation oncology machines to ensure they are on a timetable that keeps our center on the cusp of treatment advances. By staying up to date with treatment models, we are able to provide technologically advanced treatment options close to home.

Amber Smith, Radiation Oncology Manager at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center, summarized it well,

“In essence, this machine just provides more of everything. It’s more precise, faster and offers greater treatment capabilities.”

Walk with a Doc

VBH 100 Feature

Honoring Auxiliary & Volunteer Services

If you look up the word “volunteer” in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the definition is quite simple, “a person who undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service.” As we celebrate the centennial of Virginia Baptist Hospital, we wanted to dedicate the month of September to honoring our Auxiliary Volunteers who are so much more than just people who do a service–they are retired teachers, nurses, business owners, military veterans, salesmen, carpenters, homemakers and more. Their knowledge is immeasurable and to listen to their stories is incredible.

Centra volunteers with handmade blankets and hats.

In 1956, women representing the churches of Lynchburg met for the purpose of organizing a Women’s Auxiliary for Virginia Baptist Hospital. The auxiliary was affiliated with the American Hospital Association to enable VBH to better serve the patients and assist in interpreting the hospital’s purpose to the community.

At the time, membership to the auxiliary was open to all “church women” in Lynchburg, and they were known as “The Pink Ladies.” The group whose formal title was the Women’s Auxiliary for Virginia Baptist had only women members until 1973 when the first male auxilian was welcomed. Men who were members of the auxiliary came to be known as “Red Coats.”

Another group within the auxiliary were called, “Candy Stripers.” This team consisted of girls between the ages of 15-18 who volunteered during the summer months and assisted in many different areas. In 1995, their iconic pink and white striped uniforms were replaced with a teal polo, and they became known as “Junior Volunteers.”

Uniforms of the VBH Auxiliary have evolved over the years. At its inception, volunteers wore salmon-colored dresses, but today female volunteers wear salmon-colored smocks and male volunteers wear red vests.

In 2006, volunteers donated their uniform dresses to a missions group traveling to Nairobi. The group gave the dresses to a group of young girls participating in choir competitions. They went on to win both local and regional competitions and insisted on the uniforms being “their magic”!

Volunteers help operate the gift shops and welcome desks at VBH.

A consistent theme among volunteers is their love for serving others and being a part of the VBH Auxiliary. Volunteer Patricia Blount shared,

“Volunteering gives me great satisfaction knowing I’m helping where it’s needed most. I worked 20 years for the Department of the Navy where I felt I was contributing to our country. After my retirement, it was important to me to contribute to others in my community. The hospital seemed to be the perfect place to do that.”

The volunteers who run the information desks at the Vassar and Oak Lane entrances are often the first faces you see when you enter the lobby, and when patients leave the hospital, the discharge volunteers are frequently the last interaction they have with a Centra Team Member.

Tanya Thacker, Manager of Auxiliary & Volunteer Services at VBH, explained, “The patients' interactions with the volunteers is the true face of our community and can leave a lasting impression.”

Throughout its history, the auxiliary has provided additional comfort and services to patients throughout the hospital. You can read about some of their services and initiatives below:

A collage of volunteers, spanning over decades of service and care.

Comfort Carts - In 1971, volunteers assembled personal care kits with a few essential items. Today, volunteers have comfort carts stocked with a variety of items that are pushed to the units.

Wheelchair Repair - VBH’s wheelchair repair crew work closely with Facilities Management to ensure the fleet of wheelchairs are operational for day-to-day use.

Gift Shops - The VBH gift shop has grown from a glass display case in the lobby in 1972 to a singular shop on the third floor in the Ford Building in the 1980’s. Today, there are two shops totaling over 800 square feet. The auxiliary also sponsors special sales a few times a month. These sales give staff and visitors an opportunity to shop or grab a yummy treat!

Free Diaper Bags - There is a dedicated team of volunteers who pack diaper bags weekly to send home with new families.

Handmade Blankets and More - The auxiliary has multiple crafters who lovingly create hats, baby blankets, fidget mats, neck pillows and stuffed animals for the patients at VBH. Additionally, church groups make and donate soft dolls, character hats, lap blankets, quilts and prayer shawls for volunteers to deliver to patients. When patients receive one of these gifts from a volunteer, their reaction is priceless.

Stockings for December Babies – In 2023, the stocking pattern was revamped, and 220 babies were sent home with a keepsake holiday stocking in the month of December. This was a stark contrast to the 32 that were sent home in 1972!

Every volunteer serves as an extension of Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital by helping to enhance the comfort of patients and their families, assisting the staff and acting as goodwill ambassadors to the community by promoting an understanding of the hospital and its services.

Volunteer Ned Stewart summarized it well when he remarked, “Being a volunteer at VBH is a privilege and a gift. I thank God for the opportunity and strength to do the job.”

Mission Moment

by Patti Snow

When I found my home at Centra over a decade ago, I knew that positive relationship building was one of the key fundamentals to being successful in my role as a Patient Experience Partner. In healthcare, relationship building is an integral part of the skill set of every staff member involved in direct patient care. Some of us spend hours, months and sometimes years with patients while others may only spend brief moments. However, no matter how much time is involved, every interaction with them makes an indelible impression that will shape their perception of their healthcare journey.

When patients enter our facilities, they relinquish the control they normally have over their daily routine and rely on us to make decisions on their behalf. To do this, we must foster communication, compassion, trust and consistency–all things that build up relationships. We work together across the system with our peers while keeping the patient in the center of what is happening.

We aren’t always able to change their clinical picture, but I have found that we can always influence their experience.

The Patient Experience Team embodies Centra’s mission of “improving the health and quality of life for the communities we serve,” and it is the core of what my colleagues and I work toward each day. We meet and engage with patients, families and friends that are in challenging and emotional situations. They depend on us to navigate what they are going through. They aren’t a room number, they are someone’s number one priority, and to improve their health and quality of life, each one of them have to be our number one too.

Thank you for reading September'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