Return to flip book view

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 1.KEEPING PHYSICIANS ABREAST OF THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION AT DIGNITY HEALTH – ST. JOHN’S HOSPITALSSUMMER 2024Medical Dialogue.A Message from Our President & CEO – Patrick CasterIt’s such an honor to be part of the St. John’s team and I would like to thank you all for welcoming me as your new Hospital President. As many of you know, I have been part of the Dignity Health family for seven years, having begun as the Chief Operating Ocer of California Hospital Medical Center in Downtown Los Angeles and subsequently transitioning to the role of President and CEO of French Hospital.I look forward to collaborating with you all in the upcoming scal year and continuing the tradition of excellence and high-quality care here at St. John’s.Patrick Caster President & CEO St. John’s HospitalsSt. John’s Earns Prestigious Leapfrog “A” Safety GradeWe’re pleased to announce that St. John’s Regional Medical Center SJRMC and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo SJHC have once again been awarded with “A” Hospital Safety Grades by the Leapfrog Group - an independent organization – for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety. This marks our fourth consecutive award designation, which demonstrates our commitment to excellence and just as importantly, the consistency with which we deliver safe care to our patients.Thank you to all of our physicians for your dedication to creating a culture of safety and an environment that is worthy of such a prestigious recognition.Proud to be Nationally Ranked for Patient SafetyHealthgrades has honored St. John’s Regional Medical Center with the  Patient Safety Excellence Award! Once again, our collective eorts are being recognized, as we continue to provide the highest quality care to our patients and communities.This award places SJRMC in the top  of hospitals nationwide for patient safety. Hospitals receiving this award consistently demonstrate superior clinical quality, while exceeding safety thresholds across numerous indicators and criteria, including the following:• Pressure Ulcer Rate• Postoperative Hemorrhage/Hematoma Rate• Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate• Postoperative Sepsis RateThank you for assuring our patients and their families that St. John’s is a place they can rely on for outstanding care and safety.

2 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI) – Performance Improvement RecognitionCongratulations to our  South Rehab, ICU and CCU teams at St. John’s Regional Medical Center for marked improvements in Hospital-Acquired Infection HAI reduction!The  South Rehab team has gone  days since the last catheter-associated urinary tract infection and the ICU/CCU has gone  days since the last central line-associated bloodstream infection.2024 Sepsis G.O.A.T. AwardThe Sepsis Committee takes great pride in introducing the inaugural Sepsis Excellent Care Greatest Of All Time G.O.A.T. Award to Dr. Patrick Um and Brittany Nielsen, RN, from the Emergency Department at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, and Dr. Kyle Brooks and Bo Chotibut, RN, from the Emergency Department at St. John’s Hospital Camarillo.This ground-breaking award recognizes individuals each quarter who have demonstrated exceptional care and expertise in treating sepsis, a dangerous medical condition caused by the body’s reaction to infection that can lead to tissue and organ damage. As a preventable, yet potentially life-threatening condition, sepsis is unfortunately all too common. We are honored to acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond in their eorts to improve patient outcomes.The recipients are being honored for their valuable contribution in the ght against sepsis. They have played a crucial role in the early identication of patients with sepsis and rapidly escalating care by initiating diagnostic work-up and treatment with intravenous uids, broad spectrum antibiotics, and continuous monitoring. Please join us in congratulating these physicians and nurses for their eorts, which have resulted in mortality reduction and overall better outcomes for patients. Q1 2024 SJHC GOAT Recipients Dr. Kyle Brooks (3rd from right) and Bo Chotibut, RN, (3rd from left), received the inaugural Sepsis G.O.A.T. Award at St. John’s Hospital Camarillo.Q1 2024 SJRMC GOAT Recipients Dr. Patrick Um (center) and Brittany Nielsen, RN (3rd from left), received the inaugural Sepsis G.O.A.T. Award at St. John’s Regional Medical Center.Top: 4 South Rehab Team from l-r: Manager Jeff Weaver, Jared Loptman, Kirk Henry, Yuliya Greben and Ana Espinosa DeLuhrs.Bottom: ICU/CCU Team (Director Xiao Lin, center; and Manager Raemarie Arguelles, 3rd from right).

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 3.Healing Hands AwardsHealing Hands Awards are presented each quarter to recognize physicians who demonstrate exceptional bedside manner, embody excellence in care and skill, and go above and beyond to touch the lives of our patients, their families and the communities we serve. Congratulations to our recent honorees.St. John’s Hospital Camarillo St. John’s Regional Medical CenterDr. Ioan BelovarskiDr. Patrick KurtDr. Elizabeth BabuDr. Sulaiman BarkhoLeading the Way with StablePoint Catheter Ablation This past spring, our Electrophysiology team, led by Dr. Ali Sovari pictured, far right, performed a pioneering cardiac procedure at St. John’s – an ablation using the StablePoint catheter by Boston Scientic. This achievement took place on the very rst day of the product’s launch nationwide.“Adding the StablePoint catheter device to our ever-growing repertoire of cardiac technologies enables St. John’s to continue to increase the safety of our patients while ensuring successful clinical outcomes for ablations,” says Dr. Ali Sovari, Medical Director of Electrophysiology at St. John’s Hospitals. “It’s truly an exciting time to be part of the eld of electrophysiology, as we were able to perform this procedure on the rst day of the product’s launch nationwide, making St. John’s a pioneer in cardiac innovation.”Congratulations to every member of the team for their tremendous contributions and for continuing to make St. John’s a pillar of excellence in cardiac care!Dr. Ali Sovari (pictured, far right) led St. John’s Hospital’s Electrophysiology team in performing one of the nation’s first StablePoint ablation catheter procedures.

4 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.MEC Member SpotlightIn each issue of MD News, we feature a Medical Executive Committee member so our physicians can get to know them better. We begin with Stephen Evans, MD, Chief of Sta.Board certied in Internal Medicine, Dr. Evans brings over  years of experience to his role as Chief of Sta. He earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, where he completed his Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency. Since then, he has practiced medicine and held prominent leadership positions across the United States. He currently serves on St. John’s Medical Executive and Joint Operations Committees, and has served as Chairman of the hospital’s Medicine Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Medicine Committee. He is also the Program Medical Director at Sound Physicians in Oxnard. What inspired you to enter the medical field? I entered the medical eld because it seemed like a good match in combining the two main goals I wanted to achieve in life: having a career in math and science, while at the same time helping people directly. Over the years, my decision was conrmed by the nature of the job itself as I became more independent in my medical training. It ended up being a very good match for who I was.What are you most proud of at St. John’s Hospitals?I am most proud of the upward trajectory of the hospital over the past few years. St. John’s is really beginning to get recognized in California and nationally for the excellent care we provide. Our hospitalist group has continued to improve on quality outcomes while doubling in size during the same time period. It’s an exciting time to be at St. John’s.What are you most looking forward to accomplishing as Chief of Staff? I think it’s important to not get in the way of progress. At the same time, I look forward to helping all of the various entities achieve their goals as we maintain this upward trajectory. Who are your role models? My main role model came early in my career right after I began my rst job in Montana. Velinda Stephen was the CEO at my hospital for the rst nine years of my career. She taught me a lot about leadership and provided opportunities to grow. At the same time, she remained a humble dedicated leader, who got amazing things done in a very impressive, focused way.What do you like to do in your spare time?I really enjoy spending time with my family. We like to travel, hike and camp. At home, I enjoy playing the piano, gardening, and anything involved with do-it-yourself projects except for plumbing. I tried that twice...no more!Medical Staff OfficersChief of Staff Stephen Evans, MDTreasurer Joseph LoPresti, MD, and Immediate Past Chief of StaffDepartment ChairsAnesthesiology Parvinjit Dhaliwal, DOEmergency Services Chris Chauhan, MDMedicine Niusha Damaghi, MDOB/GYN Peter Robilio, MDPathology Joanna Xie, MDRadiology William Deruso, MDSurgery John Baber, MDStephen Evans, MD Chief of Staff

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 5.Reminder: Video Recording PolicyAt Dignity Health, we prioritize patient privacy and condentiality. As a reminder, all video recording at our facilities must rst be approved by hospital administration to ensure we adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA Rule as well as our internal policies on videotaping within the hospital. HIPAA states that healthcare providers, including hospitals and doctors’ oces, may only allow lm crews access to their facilities if they obtain written authorization from patients. Authorizations must also be signed by visitors and employees being recorded. Thank you for respecting the privacy rights of others and maintaining a safe environment. You can read CommonSpirit Health’s Photography, Video- and Audio-Recording Policy by clicking or scanning the QR code.Obtaining ApprovalRequests to record video must be approved by both Amy Henderson, Corporate Responsibility Ocer, at  -, and by Christina Zicklin, CA Region Director of External Communications, at  -. National Recognition for Heart, Stroke and Diabetes CareWe are pleased to announce that Dignity Health - St. John’s Hospital Camarillo SJHC and St. John’s Regional Medical Center SJRMC have earned Gold Plus and Bronze Plus honors from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. • SJHC earned a spot on the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target: Type  Diabetes Honor Roll.• SJRMC achieved status on the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite, Advanced Therapy and Target: Type  Diabetes Honor Roll.• SJRMC received the Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center – BRONZE PLUS Award.These awards recognize St. John’s commitment and success in implementing a high standard of stroke, heart and diabetes care by ensuring that our patients receive treatment that meets nationally accepted, evidence-based standards and recommendations.Thank you to all of our physicians for supporting us in achieving these outstanding recognitions.In MemoriamSt. John’s Hospital’s Administration, Sta and Physicians are saddened by the passing of Anthony “Tony” William Migler, MD, Pathologist.November ,  ~ July , For more than  years, Dr. Migler touched countless lives and spread joy throughout the St. John’s Hospitals, especially in the pathology lab. He integrated his strong faith with his career as a member of the hospital’s Ethics Committee of which he also served as director. He cherished his role as a husband, father, and grandfather, nding immense joy in family gatherings and the pleasures of life outdoors. He will be greatly missed.

6 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.Welcome New Physicians to the St. John’s Hospital FamilyCardiology Robert Sogomonian, MDEmergency MedicineUzair Raja, MDRuth Ramos, MDFamily Medicine & OBGYNJames Caines, DOInternal MedicineEric Abkian, MDMohammad Alghussein, MDTrevor Owens, DOIntra Operative NeuromonitoringJennifer Chu, MD Jay Fishleder-Varma, MDNeonatologyMelissa Krebs, MDOB/GYNRoy Silver, MDOrthopedic SurgeryChristina Bush, PAPulmonary & Internal MedicineRyan Gil, MD - starting Aug RadiologyLourdes Alanis, MDSimon Onderi, MD Tele-NeurologyKaren Dumars, MDTele-PsychiatryKedarnath Challakere, MDDave Ravi, MDAdam Ruggle, MD Mitali Wadekar, MDBrian Wu, MDTele-RadiologyAntonio Alvarez, MD John Morelli, MDAnil Sharma, MDElectric Vehicle Charging Station ConversionTo ensure that we are able to meet the long-term needs of physicians and team members who use electric vehicles, we are transitioning to a pay-for-use model with our electric vehicle charging stations and installing new charging stations at select locations. This change will enable us to maintain the highest service standards, increase the uptime of charging stations, and reinforce our sustainability eorts at CommonSpirit Health.The conversion began with pilot sites in May . The new charging stations will begin to be installed later this summer. Pricing will vary based on local rates. Drivers will be required to download the ChargePoint App, which will help them locate available charging stations and manage payments.For support, drivers should continue to call the ChargePoint support line at  -. Access to dedicated / customer support will resolve any issues quickly, enhancing the overall user experience. Please contact your local facility leader if you have additional questions about your local charging stations. We are excited about the positive impact this change will have on our community and the environment, and we appreciate your support and cooperation as we make this transition.To use the charging stations, please download the ChargePoint App.Apple Android

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 7.Volunteers Needed for Community Free ClinicWant to give back to your community? Each month, the Oxnard Community Outreach Clinic provides free screenings and exams to community members. The clinic was initially started by the Vituity ER group to address health inequities in the community and to provide resources to those with limited access to care. It’s now grown into a collaboration with support from the Vituity Cares Foundation, St. John’s Hospitals Ministry Food Bank and Christ the King Church where the clinics are held. Each month, between  -  patients visit the clinic to receive free blood pressure and diabetes screenings, general exams, haircuts, prescription rells and more. Our volunteers have included students, COPE volunteers, medics, hospital sta, advanced providers, physicians and even our own family members. If you are interested in volunteering at an upcoming clinic, please contact Dan Orosco, DO, at  -, Patrick Um, MD, at  -, or email vcfoxnard@gmail.com to sign up!Dan Orosco, DO, (far right) and Patrick Um, MD (second from right), volunteer at the Oxnard Community Outreach Clinic to provide free medical services to the community. First Spine Robotics CaseSt. John’s Regional Medical Center has acquired the Globus ExcelsiusGPS® Robot and the Globus Intraoperative CT system–the world’s rst revolutionary robotic navigation platform. This minimally invasive technique enhances the precision and ecacy of spinal surgeries. It combines a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities into one adaptable platform for accurate alignment in spine surgery.The Globus Robot can be used to perform a wide range of complex spinal surgeries with unparalleled accuracy, including minimally invasive lumbar fusions, thoracic and cervical fusions, decompressions, and scoliosis corrections. It is designed to improve the accuracy of spinal implants and optimize patient outcomes by oering real-time imaging and navigation. Combined with the Globus Intraoperative CT, this technology allows for enhanced visualization and precision during complex spinal surgeries, reducing the risk of complications and improving recovery times.This cutting-edge technology is now being utilized by Dr. Amit Goyal who is a certied superuser of the Globus Robot, and Dr. Akinwunmi Oni-Orisan who performed St. John’s rst spinal fusion case. A special thank you to St. John’s Healthcare Foundation for supporting the purchase of this technology, which is already leading to favorable outcomes for our spine patients. Surgical Milestone: 2,000 Robotics Cases!Last spring, Dr. Brian Tuai, Medical Director of Robotics pictured right, performed his th robotic case at Dignity Health – St. John’s Regional Medical Center! We celebrated this incredible achievement, alongside other key members of the Surgery team, including Kimrae McDonald, RN, Senior Surgical Services Director pictured left, and John Lampara, CST, Surgical Robotics Coordinator. Thanks to our clinical and support sta for making this accomplishment a reality.Dr. Oni Orisan performs St. John’s first ever robotics spine case.

8 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.CALL FOR ARTICLES: We encourage members of the St. John’s Hospital Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center Staff to submit information or articles for publication in the Medical Dialogue. We welcome your input! Please contact Tracie Gipson, Editor, at 818.522.4574 or tracie.cheesemangipson@CommonSpirit.org.EDITORIAL TEAMLynn Jeffers, MDCMO, St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital CamarilloRenee ShimitzSenior Director, Medical Staff ServicesChristina ZicklinMedical DialogueEditorial DirectorTracie GipsonMedical Dialogue EditorVisit St John’s CMO Information Website at bit.ly/sjdoctorsSt. John’s Hospital Camarillo Turns 50Thank you to everyone who joined us in July to celebrate the -year anniversary of SJHC!Founded in July of  by a group of community leaders motivated to provide a hospital to the local residents, Pleasant Valley Hospital was built on a -acre site by the foothills of Camarillo.In , the hospital obtained its accreditation from the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals and ultimately reached its full capacity of  beds for the very rst time that same year. In , Pleasant Valley Hospital was renamed St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital upon merging with St. John’s Regional Medical Center and four years later, the joint hospitals became part of the Central Coast system of Catholic Healthcare West. As part of a larger system, St. John’s Hospitals were able to expand their technological oerings to include hyperbaric medicine oxygen chambers, diagnostic imaging and wound treatment.In July of , Dignity Health – St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital ocially changed its name to Dignity Health – St. John’s Hospital Camarillo, just three years after it opened its doors to a newly expanded  square foot facility with state-of-the-art services and technologies.We’ve been honored to positively impact our community during the past  years, and were grateful to celebrate this milestone commemoration most certainly worthy of recognition.Celebrating St. John’s Hospital Camarillo’s 50th Anniversary: Patrick Caster, St. John’s Hospitals CEO; Lynn Jeffers, MD, St. John’s Hospitals CMO; and Tony Trembley, Mayor of Camarillo (l-r)Happy Golden Jubilee St. John’s HospitalCamarillo Then &Now, Celebrating 50 Years! July 29, 2024