As our President & CEO Terry Lerash retires, we look back at his nearly 50 years in healthcare, learn more about our new chief executive, Mike Nanzer, find out the full story about our very own Rosie the Riveter and more. It's 56 pages of jam-packed Scheurer content!
FULL CIRCLE PG24
PG 06 NEW PEDIATRICIAN
Dwight Gascho has been on Scheurer’s board since 1987. Now, he reflects on his accolades. A 36-YEAR LEGACY PG 15
Sudha Damidi, MD joins our Pediatric team in Pigeon with her patients’ health (and their parents) at the top of her list.
Shelli Farnum explains why Scheurer is a second home and family for her. SPOTLIGHT PG23
OUR PROVIDERS PG 28 Dan Drake, MD is just one of the many outstanding providers at Scheurer Health.
INFORMATION FOR YOUR HOSPITAL STAY Learn our best practices for the best outcomes PATIENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES FOUNDIN EVERY ISSUE Knowing your rights as a patient benefits everyone
WiFi, dining options, visiting hours and much more VISITOR & PATIENT INFORMATION
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sometimes, you just need to get your bearings MAIN CAMPUS & LOCATION MAPS
Phone numbers and addresses of every Scheurer location
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Dr. Damidi
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Our New Pediatrician
Ask anyone and they’ll have a hard time disagreeing:
the bustling world of healthcare, Pediatricians hold a special place in our hearts, dedicated to caring for the health and well-being of our little ones. Sudha Damidi, MD has always had a dream of helping children grow to best understand their health. Dr. Damidi believes in the power of healthy habits and a strong emphasis on preventative care to prevent diseases before they even come into play. Altogether, it ensures a bright future for her young patients. Her commitment to making a positive impact on children's lives is evident throughout her life’s journey. Dr. Damidi's interest in becoming a Pediatrician was sparked at a young age back in rural India. In grade school, she witnessed a classmate get a bead lodged inside of their ear and watched as they became very distressed, unsure of what would happen next. “I saw a kid put a bead into their ear right in the classroom and immediately they became terrified because we did not have any resources to remove the bead right there. They then went to the doctor where they had the instruments to take the foreign object out of the ear. The child’s mood immediately improved because he was so terrified of where it would end up. That really had a lasting impact on me and what medicine could do.”
People love babies.
There’s just something about a baby’s miniature size, sweet cooing sounds and the nonstop discovery of life right in front of them. Parents will literally do anything for their kids to ensure a bright and healthy future. And as the world seems to spin faster and faster, with demands coming at mom and dad from every angle, having a medical professional standing in their corner is absolutely, positively essential. Being a Pediatrician is a calling that requires a unique blend of medical expertise, empathy, a gentle touch and a genuine love for children. In
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Dr. Damidi Our New Pediatrician
This incident became a pivotal moment that inspired her to pursue a career in Pediatrics, aiming to make a dramatic difference in the lives of children. After completing medical school in India, Dr. Damidi moved to the United States in 1994, where she has been practicing ever since. When her twin boys were born in 1997, she took a break from the o ce to prioritize their care and growth. Driven by her passion for motherhood and her children's well-being, she returned to residency in Pediatrics after a few years, completing her training in New York before ultimately settling back home in the mitten state. Michigan and even more specifically, the Thumb reminds Dr. Damidi of her time living back in India because of the small-knit community feel and the idea that everyone knows each other. “On my first visit to Scheurer, I immediately felt a connection with the team and appreciated the welcoming atmosphere. I really liked the friendliness, the openness of the team and felt like I blended in right away. I was easily able to connect with everybody and it felt as if it was something that was just meant to be. I look forward to building relationships with patients and their families, providing compassionate care, and making a positive impact on the community.” Before her move to Scheurer Health, Dr. Damidi attended to newborn care and patient rounds at Hurley Medical Center and other tertiary facilities in Flint, Michigan. “I lived in Rochester Hills, but my work experience came from Flint. I worked in a small group practice for about 10 years with two other Pediatricians.” As a practicing Pediatrician in the Flint area during the water crisis, Dr. Damidi witnessed firsthand the devastating effects it had on
Your Pediatrician is just like a second parent to your child... we want the very best for your child. -Dr. Sudha Damidi
Dr. Damidi shares a smile with Mindy, daughter of Lois Booms, NP. Between Dr. Damidi (center), Lois Booms, NP (left) and Sheena Damm, NP (right), pediatric patients will have plenty of care from our dedicated Pediatric team.
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Dr. Damidi (second from left, in green) is now seeing pediatric patients at Scheurer Primary Care - Pigeon. She joins the outstanding and experienced staff of Sally Peters (left), Jamie Gettel (second from right) and Angie Roemer (right), seen here on Baseball Day, part of Patient Experience Week at Scheurer Health.
families and the community. Many families were forced to move, resulting in changes in patient numbers and necessitating a move to a different practice. Despite the challenges, Dr. Damidi acknowledges the resilience and strength of the Flint community and remains connected with her former colleagues. “The Flint water crisis brought a lot of changes to the healthcare field. Many families moved out during that year and we started seeing numbers shrink and that is when I made the move to switch to a different practice, so I could make the biggest impact possible. It was an excellent practice and still is to this day. I keep in touch with the providers and appreciate all the work they do.” Dr. Damidi has nothing but excitement and eagerness to start as our newest Pediatrician. “Your Pediatrician is just like a second parent to your child. You can trust the Pediatrician because we want the very best for your child and look out for them just like a parent does. It’s the parent’s job to help the child grow and I make sure that they are growing healthy.”
It is hard not to feel Dr. Damidi’s passion for children’s health, even during your first interaction with her. Not only does she want a parent to understand their child’s growth and development, but the whole family. “Preventative care is most effective when the entire family understands it and is onboard from an early stage. That’s the key to a healthy future…and I can help with that!” Dr. Sudha Damidi is seeing patients Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Pediatric clinic at Scheurer Primary Care – Pigeon (168 N. Caseville Rd, Pigeon) and is open to any children from newborns to 18-years-old. To make your appointment with Dr Damidi, call our Pediatric clinic in Pigeon directly at 989.453.2141. No physician referral is required.
Dr. Damidi’s name is pronounced simply: Comedy with a D “Dom-ed-ee”
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SCHEURER Where Everyone Is Treated Like Family...Because They Probably Are.
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In life, the bonds of family run deep. But those relationships don’t stop at the front door of Scheurer Health; they run through every hallway of every location. Nearly a quarter of all employees at Scheurer have some sort of relation to someone else on our team of 488 medical professionals. One of those families is the Gilbert clan, who currently have a total of eight family members working in different corners of the organization with more than 70 combined years of service at Scheurer Health. At the core of the bunch are a brother and sister, Dave Gilbert and Melissa Gilbert, each with their respective wife and fiancé also in the Scheurer ranks, Hope Gilbert and Neil Belmont. Throw in Carrie Dubs, Kim Krohn, Katie Jones and Gail Talaski and you suddenly are on the cusp of a constant family reunion. Each of them work in various areas of Scheurer, from Fiscal Services, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Services, Laboratory, Acute Care, Care Coordination, Physician Practice Management to Nutritional Services. Despite being in different areas of Scheurer, the collaborations between them happen more times than not. In fact, for the cover photo of this article, Dave and Hope Gilbert were a few minutes late because they were working on a mutual project. Hope remarked about the working relationship with her husband, “Dave and my jobs co-exist a lot. Just before we sat down here, he was in my department fixing one of my machines (in surgical services). So that’s nice because I get to see him throughout the day. Our jobs go hand-in-hand; I need stuff fixed and he’s the guy to fix it.” Kim Krohn is grateful for her cousin (through soon-to-be marriage) Neil’s skills in painless blood draws. Meanwhile, Neil is appreciative of Gail Talaski in Nutritional Services for going above and beyond, “Gail will actually bring food down to the lab on weekends when I am working alone and can’t get down to the dining room; she’s got a great heart.”
Scheurer Health’s happy & harmonious work environment positively influences the quality of care we provide. The genuine care and support at Scheurer patients, which creates a culture of excellence and compassion. -Melissa Gilbert translate into our interactions with
Melissa Gilbert, Hope Gilbert, Neil Belmont and Dave Gilbert pose for a picture after participating in the Cheeseburger Parade of Fools for Scheurer.
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All In The Scheurer Family
It’s not just because they are family that these small acts of kindness happen, either. It’s all part of the Scheurer culture, in what we call “The Scheurer Way.” Gail Talaski views The Scheurer Way as simply the way she goes through life, “I just love to cook and I love all of the people. I like being around people whether it be serving them or helping them...I just love it.” Dave Gilbert was diagnosed with a rare illness at the age of 18 and it was because of family that made it possible for him to still be here today. His sister, Melissa recalls, “Dave had just turned 18. He called me when I was at home and told me to wake up our parents and meet him at the hospital. Dr. Scott Reiter transferred him to Covenant and then Dave eventually ended up at U of M, where they discovered he had Aplastic Anemia.” Aplastic Anemia is a rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells. To overcome this, Dave would need to undergo a bone marrow transplant. The entire Gilbert family was tested as potential donors and Melissa came back as a 100% match.
straight days of chemo to which we then had the bone marrow transplant (from Melissa).” “He was on his death bed before the transplant,” Hope specified, “they said if they would’ve injected that much chemo into a horse, the horse would be dead. But that is the relationship these two had and still have. Melissa would do anything for her brother.” Dave recovered well and as a result, was inspired to go into healthcare, “I knew from back when I got sick that patient care is something that I wanted to do. When the opportunity came to run on the ambulance, I joined that team. I eventually moved into doing maintenance at the hospital and I enjoyed that. It was when the Bio-Med spot opened up here at Scheurer and I was able to deal with more patient care.” That strong bond is not just exclusive to family, but everyone that works and interacts with Scheurer Health. The Gilberts each discussed that their sense of family is how they treat every patient and visitor. Melissa Gilbert summed it up for the whole family, “Scheurer Health’s happy and harmonious work environment positively
Dave chimed in, “I had to go through five
influences the quality of care we provide. The genuine care and support at Scheurer translate into our interactions with patients, which creates a culture of excellence and compassion.” To help navigate the ever-complicated world of “who are you from home,” we asked our staff to submit their Scheurer family trees. The next page are all the responses we received from our team.
When Dave Gilbert was 18-years-old, he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. His sister, Melissa was a 100% match as a bone marrow donor and seen below during the transfer process.
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Scheurer Family Trees Jane Ballard // Surgical Services - John Ballard , brother // Emergency Dept Heather Bender // Laboratory - Madalynne Toner , daughter // Primary Care – Caseville - Amy Babcock , sister // Fiscal Services Kari Campbell // Acute Care - Mike Campbell , husband // Plant Engineering - Kylie Bohn , daughter // Acute Care Jaylee Chandonnet // Community Wellness - Joely Chandonnet , mother // Country Bay Village Jody Chapin // Walk-In Clinic - Ashlynn Terwilliger , daughter // Environmental Services Renee Crumm // Patient Access - Jodi Smith , cousin // Specialty Care - Jamie Gettel , cousin // Primary Care – Pigeon - Lori Sweetman , cousin // Acute Care - Ann Finkbeiner , cousin // Human Resources - Alicia Truemner , cousin // Quality Barb Dufty // Fiscal Services - Jennifer Dunn-Smith , daughter // Patient Access - Sean Smith , son-in-law // EMS Tricia Ewald // Specialty Care & Primary Care - Heidi Ewald , daughter // Cardiac Rehab Shelli Farnum // Environmental Services - Courtney DeWyse , niece // Patient Access Melissa Gilbert // Fiscal Services - Dave Gilbert , brother // Biomedical Engineering - Hope Gilbert , sister-in-law // Surgical Services - Katie Jones , sister-in-law // Acute Care - Neil Belmont , fiancé // Laboratory - Gail Talaski , cousin // Nutritional Services - Carrie Dubs , cousin // Care Coordination - Kim Krohn , cousin // Physician Practice Management Tammy Gnagey // Scheurer Vision - Carly Gnagey , daughter-in-law // Primary Care – Elkton Charristen Goslin // Primary Care - Pigeon - Danielle Goslin , sister-in-law // Laundry Services Carissa Gregory // Country Gardens - Kaitlyn Alexander , daughter // Pharmacy – Elkton - Natalie Alexander , daughter // Country Gardens - Brianah Alexander , daughter // Country Gardens Karen Hessling // Country Gardens - Megan Konczal , daughter-in-law // Quality - Amanda Kundinger , niece // Emergency Services
Laura Iseler // Acute Care - Jennifer Iseler , sister-in-law // Rehabilitation - Shelby Wolschleger , niece // Respiratory Therapy - Charlotte Ignash , cousin // Occupational Therapy Angela Lackie // Inpatient Pharmacy - Alanna Lackie , mother-in-law // Primary Care – Case ville Crystal May // Emergency Dept - Christian May , husband // Pharmacy Courier Sheila McBride // Respiratory Services - Jessica McBride , daughter-in-law // Primary Care – Bad Axe Diane Milton // Rehabilitation - Sharon Bumhoffer , sister-in-law // Diagnostic Imaging Danielle Penfold // VP, Quality & Experience - Paul Penfold , husband // Primary Care – Caseville Yvonne Prill // Human Resources - Taylor Kosiara , nephew // Information Technology Clark Ramsey // Marketing & Business Development - Ross Ramsey, MD , brother // President & CEO - Alisha Ramsey , sister-in-law // Pharmacy – Elkton Kimberly Raymond // Social Work - Laurie Rathje , mother // Laboratory - Theresa Kain , sister-in-law // Care Coordination Scott Reiter, DO // Primary Care – Caseville - Caitlin Buggia , daughter // Surgical Services - Corey Buggia , son-in-law // Acute Care - Jared Reiter , son // Acute Care Annette Renn // Country Bay Village - Dean Renn , husband // Plant Engineering Sherry Seley // Nutritional Services - Adriana Seley , daughter // Laboratory Melissa Smith // Primary Care – Sebewaing - Sally Peters , cousin // Primary Care – Pigeon Madison Sroka // Fiscal Services - Tracy Irion , aunt // Emergency Dept Lynn Valentine // Primary Care – Sebewaing - Cami McNeil , daughter // USA School Wellness Clinic - Calie Montgomery , daughter // Quality Kim Vermeersch // Fiscal Services - Stephanie Vermeersch , daughter-in-law // Surgical Services - Brooke Bloomfield , cousin // Primary Care - Sebewaing Jodi Williamson // Human Resources
- Jillian Williamson , daughter // Infusion Therapy - Mackenzie Eurich-Ortner , niece // Acute Care
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Susie Irion // Emergency Dept - Emma Irion , daughter // EMS
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ELKTON PIGEON SEBEWAING
Dwight Gascho A 36-Year Legacy
“I said, ‘Paul, you’re dreaming.’ Why would a little farm boy from Pigeon, Michigan go in and sit at the executive desk at a hospital? He said, ‘No, Dwight. We don’t care about any of that. We want somebody that the people know and that people trust. We want somebody that knows the employees and knows the dynamic of the community. We’ll teach you all the other stuff.’” “The first while was just crisis control. Back then, the hospital was financially struggling and morale was low. We didn’t really have the money to finish projects properly. I even went to the (hospital) Auxiliary so we could buy a fax machine. That first while, all I did was simply listen. Just listen and listen and listen and there was a line out the door, almost literally. People wanted to come and talk to me about what they needed in their departments and what we needed to do to succeed.” With all of that listening, Dwight was sculpting a grass roots movement that united the work force, established a quality of care that is still second-to-none all these years later and shortly thereafter, the hospital started to show a modest profit. What finally put the community’s minds at ease, including Dwight, was the announcement and fruition of Country Bay Village, our independent senior living community, now home to a total of 51 apartments and condos on Scheurer’s main campus. “That really was the turning point. It was about that same time that we met Dr. Scott Reiter, which was by chance and only by the Lord above having his hand involved. Some of things that happened to make this place successful were beyond coincidence. The fact that Joanne and John Schaefer were in Pennsylvania playing cards at Scott Reiter’s parents’ house and happened to mention Scheurer Hospital; that just proves it. Dr. Reiter brought us a number of doctors to Scheurer, which built on everything else we were putting together.” If anyone has ever met Dwight, his personability and refusal to take credit will quickly be evident. “What happened, I believe, was that the
Top: Dwight Gascho sits at his CEO desk in the late 1990’s. Middle: The Pigeon Progress’ article when Dwight was named the permanent CEO, instead of interim. Bottom: Dwight and Dr. Scott Reiter pose for a photo as part of National Doctors’ Day
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employees helped turn the organization. They represented and advocated for the hospital to become stronger. So many people and so many little things played a role. The free coffee played a role and they were willing to give me a chance.” When Dwight first took over as the leader of Scheurer Hospital in 1990, the organization was comprised of 130 employees. By the time he retired from his full-time role in 2016, Scheurer Health had grown to 475 strong – a growth of a modest 265%. One of the biggest changes which made that possible was Scheurer’s designation as a critical-access hospital in the year 2000. It enabled cost-based reimbursement with Medicare, keeping more local dollars in the community and allowing Scheurer to plow those dollars right back into the local economy. That designation also opened the door for Scheurer to attract more doctors and establish a robust network of Primary Care clinics across the Thumb, now in Bad Axe, Caseville, Elkton, Pigeon and Sebewaing. Dwight firmly believes every expansion has been made possible by the establishment of a strong culture inside of Scheurer. “That’s what you want to instill in your employees, a defense of that culture. So first of all, they have to appreciate it. And to appreciate it,
it has to be worth appreciating. It’s a whole process; but then once you get it, it can be quickly damaged. To enrich an organization’s culture, it must be reinforced every single day with every single interaction.” Dwight retired as President & CEO at the age of 68 and was able to pass the baton of Scheurer’s success to Terry Lerash, who himself recently retired at the end of 2022, who now passes things onto Dr. Ross Ramsey – someone Dwight recruited to Scheurer more than a decade ago. All the while, Dwight has remained as a prominent figure and guidepost on the Scheurer Health Board of Trustees. Now at the age of 75, Dwight passes the torch onto the very people that he recruited and introduced to the board, which includes current board chairperson Brian Keim. At the May 2023 board meeting Brian Keim presented Dwight with an o cial board resolution and as Dwight refers to it as, “the Empire State Building in crystal” for his efforts over the last 36 years. Dwight referenced a famous evangelist for inspiration as he reflected back on his Scheurer tenure, “Billy Graham once said that the key to life is to find people you enjoy being around and then grow old together. There’s something
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An avid woodworker, Dwight has built a number of the parade floats for Scheurer Health over the years, including this year’s edition, “Back to a Healthy Future.”
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Dwight Gascho A 36-Year Legacy to be said for that. There’s a part that Scheurer will always be a part of me. It wasn’t a passing opportunity that led to another opportunity
Upon Dwight’s retirement in 2016 the Scheurer Health Foundation established the Dwight Gascho Leadership Fund, which was created to support further education, leadership development and recognition of its outstanding leaders on an annual basis. Past recipients of the “Dwight Gascho Leadership Award” include Laurie Polega of Diagnostic Imaging, Marci Rievert of Acute Care and Lori Sweetman of the former Long Term Care unit. Over the last seven years, the leadership fund has grown from wide community support. If you would like to help support the future of Scheurer’s leadership in Dwight’s honor, go to www.scheurer.org/donate
to another one. It became who I was and Scheurer, to some extent, became who I was from the influences that I was able to exert on the organization. Those memories are now treasures to me.” And as only Dwight could do, he concluded his career’s reflection with an enormously amount of underselling, “There’s a legacy in there somewhere. I’m just proud to have been a part of it. I just couldn’t be prouder of Scheurer.”
Part of his retirement gift in 2016, Dwight received a Les Paul guitar from the staff of Scheurer. Here, Dwight debuts the new guitar with his band, “The Flashbacks” at his retirement party, as Jay Dubey, fellow board of trustee, friend and bandmate cheers the crowd on after playing “Johnny B. Goode.”
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SPOTLIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Shelli Farnum has been a part of the Scheurer Health team for fourteen years in Environmental Services. Shelli dedicates her love for Scheurer to three impactful reasons: her work family, the culture Scheurer has and getting to help those who walk into any of our 20-plus locations. “I love that Scheurer has become my home away from home. All of my co-workers feel like family and I rely on them for help and support while they rely on me as well. If we’re short-staffed or need extra assistance, everyone is always willing to step up and help right away.” “The culture here at Scheurer is indescribable in the best way. Not only do my co-workers in Environmental Services feel like a family, but I also get the joy of working with a majority of other departments throughout the hospital and they too have become family. I play just a small role in a patient’s care here by making sure they have the cleanest environment possible. That goes a long way for our quality as an organization.” “My favorite part of my job is being able to help our patients by giving them a fresh, clean bed and room. Their stay here starts with making sure they are comfortable and feel happy with the room they will be staying in.” Over the years, Scheurer Health has been named the cleanest hospital in Michigan and in the Top 45 of all hospitals in the United States, thanks to our dedicated team in Environmental Services.
Shelli Farnum ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
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Full Circle Carolyn Morrison feels right at home where she once worked
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Carolyn Morrison’s life has come full circle. Once the manager of Acute Care at Scheurer Health, Carolyn now enjoys her retirement at the same place that she worked…right here at Scheurer. As a resident of Country Bay Village and an active member in the Scheurer Auxiliary, it comes as no surprise that she is such an ambassador of the great culture and environment that Scheurer provides to everyone. Born in a “small” town in Iowa (about the same size as all of Huron County combined), Carolyn has always loved that feeling of small-town living. She grew up as an only child in Marshalltown, Iowa and loved how slow-placed it was and being able to simply walk across the street to get to school. When her mother passed from cancer when she was 13, her life’s journey decided to bring her out of her small town roots to the big city. After finishing up the ninth grade with only eight other students in her class, her father moved the family to the Motor City for a fresh start after marrying a home economics teacher. “Moving to Detroit was quite a transition,” Carolyn expressed, “When I first came to Detroit, I had to take a public transportation bus from where we lived to get to school every day. I graduated from Southeastern High School in Detroit in 1959 with 500 kids in my class.” It was there that Carolyn decided to pursue a career in nursing at the University of Michigan, “In the age that I grew up in, a woman had three career choices. You could be a nurse, you could be a teacher or you could be a secretary.” “When my mother was ill with cancer, she was in the hospital bed in our house for over a year. This was back when there was no such thing as chemo to help with the cancer. From that experience with my mother, I wanted to pursue nursing.” Carolyn did just that at the University of Michigan (U-M). While studying and enjoying life in Ann Arbor, Carolyn was approached by a dormmate to go on a blind date with Don, her fiancé’s friend. Don was studying psychology at U-M and was asked to take his friends out since he was one of the very few that had a car at the
time. Don agreed but only if he had a date to accompany him. Luckily, Carolyn turned out to be more than a carpooler and the couple was inseparable moving forward. The pair dated for two years and it was only a month after Carolyn graduated in 1963 that she and Don married. From then on, life happened quickly for the two. Don went on to work at General Motors (GM) in the computer world and Carolyn became a teacher of nursing at Nazareth College’s St. Joseph School of Nursing in Flint – one of four colleges in Michigan at the time that offered a bachelor’s degree in nursing. “The funny part about all of this is that my first ever job as a nurse was being a teacher at a school of nursing,” Carolyn grinned, “It was a full-circle moment considering I did not want to be a teacher but ended up teaching anyway.” After two years of teaching, Carolyn became pregnant with their first child, Scott, who was born in 1965. Soon after, they had their second child, Lynn, who was born in 1967. This time around, Carolyn had switched job paths and was now working at an obstetrics o ce in Fenton, MI. This venture was short-lived as Don needed to be in the GM o ce so they uprooted their family to Beverly Hills, Detroit where Carolyn worked as a pediatric nurse and gave birth to their third child, Kathy in 1972. With Carolyn’s dad growing older, she had decided to have him move into their bustling family home so she could take better care of him. It was during this time that Carolyn had their fourth child, Elizabeth. As a surprise to no one, the family had run out of all available space and decided to build a house in Rochester to accommodate their growing family. Her father had lived with the family for several years before he passed and Carolyn expressed gratitude for being able to have him in the house with her family for all those years. The move to Rochester brought about another new adventure for Carolyn. She took a job at Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital formally known as Crittenton Hospital, working STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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Carolyn Morrison A Full Circle Life
in the Emergency Department until Don retired from General Motors in 2000. It was then they decided to move the family up to the Thumb of Michigan. “In the eighties, we bought a summer cottage on Sand Point. We’d come up for the weekends with the kids and enjoy spending time on the boat,” Carolyn beamed, “At the time it was just a summer home; it was only a two-bedroom and did not have any heat. But with four kids, we decided to add onto it and make it into a year-round home.” That’s where Carolyn’s journey at Scheurer began as the manager of Acute Care. She continued her career at Scheurer for 10 years as the manager before she retired in 2010. “It was very interesting starting work at Scheurer because it was much smaller than the facility I had worked at in Rochester. It felt like being back in Iowa with the slower, small-town feel. When I first started at Scheurer I, of course, did not know everybody but I got to know them quite well since everyone is so friendly and caring. Right after my husband died (in 2005), everyone thought that I was going to move back down to Detroit, but I said ‘no’ just because I liked working up here so much and everyone was so kind and generous when that happened.” One of the first jobs that Carolyn was tasked with was to find a
computer system for the start of digital medical records. Up to that point, doctors were still writing all orders by hand. “My team and I had to go out, research and find out what kind of computer system we needed for our small, independent hospital. We had three different trips to small hospitals that set up their own digital systems. We traveled as far as Maine to see what we could do back home at Scheurer.” Carolyn ranks implementing a digital medical record system as one of her biggest accomplishments, “It was great to get into this new world of computers and convincing the doctors that they needed to get on the computers and send us the orders rather than writing them out. It completely changed how we did our work.” Dwight Gascho was the President & CEO of Scheurer at that time and tasked Carolyn with that massive overhaul. She always had a great relationship with
him and in fact, only lived a few houses apart. “If the weather was bad enough, I would get a call from Dwight saying that he was going to pick me up and take me to work, so I didn’t have to worry about getting to work in the snow. I thought that was extremely nice of him to do, but with that, I would always tease him that I would never get a snow day. When the CEO offers to pick you up and take you to work, you go to work, you know?” Carolyn laughed. Winter and the offseason on Sand Point would get a bit lonely for Carolyn so she figured she would stay at Country Bay Village just for the winter months. As she got older, she decided to make her full-time with Scheurer Senior Living. “It’s been amazing living at Country Bay. Everyone is so caring and you still get to be very independent. You get a menu each week and get to choose what you would like to
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eat which is nice to be able to customize your lunch meals. Two days a week we have an exercise class that allows us to stretch and move around in a proper, instructed way which has been absolutely wonderful. We also get to play bingo once a week where we each play until everyone gets two prizes. We also play dominoes, Skip-Bo and euchre, watch movies and put together puzzles. I’ve been at Country Bay for two years and I am always finding something to do. I am never bored.” After schooling everyone in a game of euchre or dominoes, Carolyn is also known as an avid quilting ace. Several quilts are adorned throughout her apartment, proudly displaying her work. “I still get together with some of my friends to sew together,” Carolyn gleamed. “We called ourselves ‘The Bernina Sisters’ because we all
had the same German-made Bernina sewing machines. After work on Wednesdays, we would go to the dining room in the hospital and sew for a couple of hours, grab something to eat, and then sew until about seven or eight o’clock. Then we would pack it all up and go home. We did that every Wednesday for several years; it was a great time.” Despite her ever-busy schedule, Carolyn was recently appointed as Secretary for the Scheurer Auxiliary. “I am excited to start my new role as Secretary. It’s quite amusing that throughout my life I was able to be all three careers that a woman could choose back then: a teacher, a nurse, and now a secretary,” Carolyn snickered, “I am excited to see what is next for me. Who knows, I might just go back to school next!”
Left: Carolyn walks us through her sprawling family tree, spanning multiple states and timezones. Above: Carolyn’s family at a recent wedding. Right: An avid quilter, Carolyn shows off just some of the many quilts are on display in her home in Country Bay Village
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SPECIALTY PROVIDERS CARDIOLOGY Andrzej Boguszewski, MD
NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY Mark Adams, MD ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY Susan Tobin, DO
Opesanmi Esan, MD William Felten, MD Mahir Sati, DO
EMERGENCY MEDICINE Andrew Berwick, MD Kaitlyn Bishop, DO Todd Britt, DO Dane Brown, MD Christopher Cooper, MD
OPHTHALMOLOGY Miranda Renfrow, DO
ORTHOPEDICS Branislav Behan, MD Craig McManaman, DO OTOLARYNGOLOGY (ENT) Brian Perry, MD
Keith Cronovich, DO Andrew Franklin, DO Sylvia Hamara, DO Joshua Newblatt, DO Andre Porchia, MD Ryan Powell, DO Benjamin Schoener, MD
PATHOLOGY Joseph Czaja, MD Aaron Goldfarb, DO Moutaz Haiba, MD Majd, Jundi, MD Eugene Olsowka, MD Steven Reeves, MD Dennis Spender, MD -- Lab Director PHYSICAL MEDICINE REHABILITATION Muhammad Jilani, MD PODIATRY Natalya Salowich, DPM
GENERAL SURGERY Amanda McSweeney, MD Sujal Patal, MD GYNECOLOGY & UROGYNECOLOGY Christina Andreozzi, MD Elena Oatey, DO
INTERNAL MEDICINE Ali Khan, MD INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Cheryl Canfield, DO
RADIOLOGY David Dubriwny, DO
UROLOGY Sity Girgis, MD
NEPHROLOGY Shreedhar Adhikari, MD David Butcher, MD Amanda Gomes, MD
ACTIVE ADULT LIVING Getting old doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you like to do. Enjoy the worry-free lifestyle with the independence you deserve and the peace of mind your family desires. Scheurer Senior Living offers two living communities: Country Bay Village // Independent Living Country Gardens // Assisted Living Take a virtual tour of our three communities by visiting scheurer.org/SeniorLiving
SCHEURER MAGAZ INE 28 40 SCHEURER MAGAZ INE
CLAYTON ESCH COUNTRY BAY VILLAGE RESIDENT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BRIAN KEIM CHAIRPERSON TRUSTEE SINCE 2015
JAY DUBEY TRUSTEE SINCE 1991
ROSS RAMSEY, MD PRESIDENT & CEO SINCE 2022
ALI KHAN, MD TRUSTEE SINCE 1994
RHONDA WISENBAUGH 1ST VICE-CHAIR TRUSTEE SINCE 2015
PEGGY McCORMICK TRUSTEE SINCE 1992
COLLEEN POISSON 2ND VICE-CHAIR TRUSTEE SINCE 2007
SCOTT MEYERSIECK TRUSTEE SINCE 1988
BRENT WEHNER SECRETARY TRUSTEE SINCE 2015
MIKE OTTO TRUSTEE SINCE 1986
JULIE GOOD TREASURER PATIENT & FAMILY ADVOCATE TRUSTEE SINCE 2019
PAT STECKER TRUSTEE SINCE 2021
JOHN SCHAEFER IMMEDIATE PAST-CHAIRPERSON TRUSTEE SINCE 1990
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Dawn Van Vliet, coordinator for Swing Bed Care and Utilization Review is one of the many smiling faces you will interact with at Scheurer Health.
WELCOME! We want to thank you for entrusting Scheurer Health for your healthcare needs. Our vision of ”Better Health. Better Life.” drives every decision we make here and you are our top priority. It is our goal to provide you with the best quality care in the safest and most enjoyable way possible. On the next three pages, you will find information that can make your stay at Scheurer Health the most successful and enjoyable, followed by your rights and responsibilities as a patient. HCAHPS SURVEY The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey is backed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and is used to improve the quality of healthcare nationwide. These results are made available to the public for maximum transparency and to make hospitals aware of where changes are needed. The results also enable individuals to review and compare hospitals before choosing a healthcare provider. After your stay with us is complete, you may receive this survey in the mail, over the phone or by email. We encourage you to fill out the HCAHPS survey honestly. Scheurer Health takes great pride in the services available to the Thumb and use this survey information to constantly improve. COMMUNICATION & PARTICIPATION You are the center of your healthcare team. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions or seek confirmation to what was just said, so that we can understand your treatment plan together. Communication about your treatment, medications and everything else associated with your care is essential to a successful recovery. HOURLY ROUNDING To make sure that have everything that you need, the nursing staff will round every hour during the day and at least every two hours at night. This includes offering assistance to use the bathroom, changing positions in bed, managing your pain or reaching for your belongings. If you need any help, just ask or use your nurse call button. INFORMATION FOR YOUR HOSPITAL STAY
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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE We consider you to be the most important piece in your care. During your stay, your providers, nurses and staff will all treat you and your family as partners in your care. One essential way that you can be involved is to speak up. Ask questions, voice your concerns and do not be afraid to raise any issues that you might see or feel. TAKE NOTES Write down any questions that have so you can remember to ask them when we check up on you. Choose a family member to communicate with the providers and staff. Keep a list of providers that you see and the medications that they prescribe so that you can share this with your care team. Learn about the medical tests that you receive and write down what it is, in case a family member needs to know where you are in your recovery. SPEAK UP & STAY ATTENTIVE Ask questions if you are not sure what is happening. If something does not feel right or is incorrect, do not hesitate to let our staff know. Do not wait until it is too late to say anything. We would rather know ahead of time to ensure that you receive proper and safe care at all times. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK It is common for a number of people to be in and out of your hospital room. Feel free to ask for their name and ID. Speak up if a staff member does not ask to check your ID bracelet before performing a new treatment. Ask if caregivers have washed their hands before they touch you. If you are told that you need certain tests or procedures done, ask why you need them, when they will happen and how long will it be before you get the results. FIGHTING INFECTIONS While you’re in the hospital to get well, you should know that there is the possibility of developing an infection. The single most important thing that you can do to help prevent infections is to wash your hands. Make sure that everyone has washed their hands who interacts with or touches you. HAND HYGIENE Maintaining clean hands as often as possible is the best way of preventing the spread of infections, including common colds, flu and even hard-to-treat infections. Anyone visiting you should also practice frequent hand hygiene after touching objects and surfaces, as well as eating and using the restroom. Your healthcare providers are required to practice hand hygiene every time they enter your room. If they do not, do not hesitate to let them know. Your care is a team effort. It only takes 20 seconds to use soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer to kill germ-causing infections. NO SOAP? GRAB THE HAND SANITIZER Alcohol-based hand cleansers are as effective as soap and water in killing most germs. To use, apply the cleaner to the palm of your hand and rub your hands together until dry on all surfaces. KNOW YOUR MEDICATIONS While you are hospitalized, your provider may prescribe medications for you. Be sure to under- stand what they are prescribing and why they are being used. Use the checklist below for notes: • Name of the medicine • Possible side effects • Generic name of the medicine • Any medications that should be avoided while • Reason for taking the medicine using this medicine • Dosage Size • Any foods, drinks or activities that might not • Frequency of the dosage be allowed while using this medicine PREVENT ANY MEDICATION ERRORS By being an active partner in your own care, you can help avoid any possible medication errors. It is important that your providers know of any and all medications that you may be taking. This can include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal and vitamin supplements, natural remedies and recreational drugs. Inform them of any allergies that you may have, as well. 43
PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES HOSPITAL RULES AND REGULATIONS – The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting their care and conduct. HONESTY – The patient is responsible for being honest and direct about everything that relates to them as a patient. The patient must provide a complete and accurate medical history to the healthcare team. UNDERSTANDING – It is the responsibility of the patient to ask questions when they do not understand any aspect of care. FOLLOWING THE TREATMENT PLAN – It is the patient’s responsibility to tell the people treating them that they can and/or want to follow a certain treatment plan. The patient should help the healthcare team in its efforts to return the patient to health by following the team’s instructions and medical orders. ADVANCE DIRECTIVES / REFUSAL OF TREATMENT – The patient has the responsibility to inform and present to the physician any Advance Directives that exist, such as Living Wills or Healthcare Durable Power of Attorneys; and of the patient’s wishes concerning any medical treatment that may be indicated. The patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner’s instructions. REPORTING CHANGES – It is the patient’s responsibility to let the healthcare team know about any changes in his/her health and how the patient feels as he/she receives medical treatment. KNOWING THE STAFF – When the patient is in the hospital, a healthcare team will work with the patient on his/her plan of treatment. Patients should try to know who the team members are and learn to understand what part the team members play in the patient’s medical care. HOSPITAL CHARGES – The patient is responsible for providing the hospital with accurate and timely information about his/her sources of payment and ability to meet financial obligations. RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION – The patient has the responsibility to be considerate of other patients by allowing roommates to have priva- cy, limiting visitors and reminding visitors to maintain a quiet atmosphere. Telephones, TVs, radios and lights should be used in a manner agreeable to others. The patient is also responsible for respecting and being considerate of hospital personnel and property. PATIENT RIGHTS ACCESS TO CARE – The patient has the right to be treated when accommodations and appropriate therapeutic modalities are available and treatment is medically indicated, regardless of sex, race, age, disability, sexual preference, cultural, economic, educational, spiritual/religious background or the source of payment for their health care. RESPECT / DIGNITY – The patient has the right to have individual human dignity recognized and respected. The patient’s care will include consideration of psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs that may influence the perceptions of illness. All patients have a right to pain relief. The care of the dying patient will be given in such a way as to optimize comfort and dignity and effectively manage pain. Hospital staff will acknowledge the patient’s/designated representative’s psychosocial and spiritual concerns regarding dying and the expression of grief by the patient and family. PRIVACY – The patient is entitled to privacy, to the extent possible, in treatment, in interviewing and in care for their personal needs. CARE PLAN – In collaboration with the physician, the patient is entitled to receive care from the appropriate individual(s) within the hospital, information about their medical condition, proposed course of treatment and prospects for recovery, in terms they can understand, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the attending physician in the medical record, to enable the patient to make decisions that reflect the patient’s wishes. IDENTITY – The patient has the right to know who is responsible for his/her care and to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to the patient. CONSENT AND REFUSAL – The patient’s written consent is required on admission to the hospital and when certain procedures are to be done. The patient is entitled to refuse medical or surgical treatment to the extent provided by law and to be informed of the consequences of that refusal. When a refusal of treatment prevents the hospital or its staff from providing appropriate care according to ethical and profes- sional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice. ADVANCE DIRECTIVES – The patient is entitled to written information regarding the Patient Self Determination Act of 1990. The patient has the right to have a copy of their Medical Advance Directives kept in their medical record and to have those directives brought to the attention of their attending physician. The patient’s guardian, next of kin or legally authorized responsible person may exercise, to the extent permitted by law, the rights delineated on the patient’s behalf if the patient has been adjudicated incompetent in accordance with the law, if the patient is found by his/her physician to be medically incapable of understanding the proposed treatment or procedure, if the patient is unable to communicate his/her wishes regarding treatment or the patient is a minor. CONTINUITY OF CARE – The patient is entitled to receive information and education concerning his/her continuing healthcare needs and alternatives for meeting those needs and to be involved in discharge planning. If the patient needs to be transferred to another facility, he or she has the right to a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and the benefits, risks and alternatives for such a transfer. CONFIDENTIALITY – The patient or their legally designated representative is entitled to confidential treatment of personal and medical records (within the limits of the law) and may refuse release of information to any person outside the hospital except as required because of a transfer to another healthcare facility or as required by law or third-party payment contract. PERSONAL SAFETY / ABUSE – The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety precautions in regards to practices and environment. The patient is entitled to be free from mental and physical abuse and from physical and chemical restraints, except those restraints autho- rized in writing by a physician for a specified diagnosis and specified limited time or as are necessitated by an emergency to protect them from injury to self or others, in which case the restraint may only be applied by a qualified professional who shall set forth in writing the circumstances requiring the restraint. The patient is entitled to be free from performing services from the hospital that are not included for therapeutic purposes in their plan of care. SCHEURER MAGAZ INE 46
CONSULTATION – The patient is entitled to associate and have private communications and consultations with her/her physician, clergy, attorney, accountant or any other person of their choice and to send and receive personal mail unopened, unless medically contraindicat- ed as documented by the attending physician in the medical record. The hospital shall encourage and assist, to the fullest possible extent, the execution of the patient’s civil and religious liberties. The patient may meet with and participate in the activities of social, religious and community groups at the patient’s discretion, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the attending physician in the medical record. The patient has the right to request consultation with a specialist or to ask for a second opinion. INFORMATION – The patient is entitled to information at the time of admission about the hospital rules/regulations and patient rights affecting patient care and conduct. The patient is entitled to exercise their rights as a patient and as a citizen and to this end may present grievances or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of themselves or others to the hospital staff, to government o cials or to another person of their choice within or outside the hospital, free from coercion, discrimination or reprisal. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital’s policies and procedures for initiation, review and resolution of their complaints. The patient is entitled to information concerning any human experimentation or other research/educational project proposed as a part of their care and shall have the right to refuse to participate in the experiment without jeopardizing their continuing care. An individual who is or has been a patient is entitled to inspect, receive a copy for a reasonable fee or receive information on how to obtain their medical record. Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Commercial and self-pay recipients will receive an itemized bill upon request. Information relating to financial assistance is available through the hospital. A third party shall not be given a copy of the patient’s medical record without their prior written authoriza- tion except as required by law. CONFLICT RESOLUTION – The patient is our primary concern and we want their stay at Scheurer Hospital to be as pleasant as possible. In the event the patient feels they are not enjoying their rights or have other concerns or problems, the patient has the right to make their concerns known without fear of reprisal. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital’s policies and procedures for initiation, review and resolution of their complaints. Patients who have a dilemma or conflict with his/her planned course of treatment should first discuss this with their physician. If it cannot be resolved, they may wish to request a meeting with the organizational Ethics Committee. VISITATION – The patient has the right to be informed of his/her visitation rights, including any clinical restrictions or limitations on such rights. With their consent, patients have the right to receive visitors, whom he/she designates, including, but not limited to: a spouse, domestic partner (including same-sex partner) and a parent or other family member or friend. Patients also have the right to withdraw or deny their consent to visitors at any time. Visitation will not be restricted or otherwise denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. All visitors will enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with the patient’s preferences. THE ETHICS COMMITTEE – The Scheurer Ethics Committee may be convened at any time to handle urgent patient care issues. This committee advises, recommends and reviews alternatives for outcomes and promotes patient advocacy. Patients, families, nursing staff or physicians may request an Ethics Committee Review by contacting the Social Worker at 989.453.5209. YOUR OPINION MATTERS – We value your input in helping us provide the best care possible. Please the HCAHPS survey you receive in the mail or by phone. We use the results to improve our care and reward our staff for excellent service. If you have a concern or an idea of how we can improve our services, do not hesitate to speak with a staff member or manager. Customer Experience can also be reached at 989.453.4497. If you are not satisfied with your response or would like to register a complaint with the State of Michigan in one of the following ways: • Call the toll-free Complaint Hotline at 800.882.6006 • Complete a Health Facility Complaint Form (BHS-OPS-361) • Submit the BHS Online Complaint Form online at: michigan.gov/bhs “Health Systems and Licensing” -> “Featured Services” • Submit a letter with: Complainant’s name, address, phone number; Facility name and location, Patient Name and location, Nature of Complaint, Date of Incident • Contact The Joint Commission; email: complaint@jointcommission.org; fax: 630.792.5632 mail: O ce of Quality Monitoring | The Joint Commission, 1 Renaissance Blvd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 PATIENT RIGHTS UNDER MEDICARE • To receive all hospital care necessary to their diagnosis and treatment • To be fully informed about decisions affecting their Medicare coverage • To appeal any written notice that Medicare will no longer pay for their care If patients have questions about their condition, treatment, need for more care or discharge date, they should talk with their physician. If patients think they’re being asked to leave the hospital too soon: • They should ask the hospital for written notice of explanation immediately • If he/she wants to appeal, he/she should do so immediately to the area Quality Improvement Organization Quality Improvement Organization Livanta LLC Appeal Helpline (888) 524-9900 or TTY (888) 985-8775 PATIENT ADVOCATE INFORMATION Patients are our primary concern and we want to make their stay at Scheurer Hospital as pleasant as possible. At any time during his/her stay, if the patient has problems or concerns about their care, meals or room, please inform either: Acute Care Unit Manager or Administra- tion (dial either 5240 or 5201 on his/her telephone). The identified concern/problem will be looked at by the appropriate member of our healthcare team. If the patient would like to file a concern about patient abuse, Citizens for Better Care (Area Ombudsman’s O ce) neglect or misappropriations of a patient’s property in the 808 N. Michigan Avenue facility, he/she may contact either of the following: Saginaw, MI 48602 866.485.9393 Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services To report fraud against Medicaid Program: Bureau of Health Systems Michigan Department of Community Health Complaint Intake O ce of Inspector General P.O. Box 30664 PO Box 30479 Lansing, MI 48909 Lansing, MI 48909 800.882.6006 (855) 643-7283 47
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