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Congratulations to September DAISY Award winner, Norma Garcia, RN

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Congratulations to September DAISY Award winner, Norma Garcia, RN

As a designated Magnet hospital, Huntington Hospital is a recognized leader in nursing excellence. Every day, our nurses go above and beyond for our patients, and we are proud to recognize them for their efforts. Huntington Hospital’s September DAISY Award winner, Norma Garcia, RN, mother baby unit, was nominated by a colleague who wrote the following:


“Tonight, I had a difficult task; my patient had an unimaginable occurrence that was extremely complicated and trying in many ways – including a language barrier. The patient did not have any support person or family. Luckily, Norma was there and did not hesitate to go far beyond her job description to support not only the patient but myself as the primary nurse. She held the patient’s hand and never left her side. She sat with her during a painful procedure and made sure the patient understood the plan of care in her own language. Norma showed great empathy; her actions were not only invaluable for the patient but provided immeasurable support to me. Norma listened to the patient’s story and became her support person. A true connection was formed – a connection that embodies the heart of nursing. This was a pivotal point in the patient’s care. I am so lucky to have witnessed this connection and to have had the support of such an amazing nurse. I truly believe that Norma helped make a devastating experience for the patient into one that was met with peace. She deserves to be acknowledged for her compassionate care.”

Congratulations, Norma, for your well-deserved DAISY Award!

For more information about the DAISY Award, please click here.

Nirav Vikram Kamdar, MD, MPP, MBA, joins Huntington Hospital as Vice President, Quality Improvement and Clinical Operations

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Nirav Vikram Kamdar, MD, MPP, MBA, joins Huntington Hospital as Vice President, Quality Improvement and Clinical Operations

Huntington Hospital today announced Nirav Vikram Kamdar, MD, MPP, MBA, has joined the Huntington Enterprise and its executive management team as vice president, quality improvement and clinical operations.

In his leadership role, Dr. Kamdar will guide quality improvement, patient safety and clinical operations, including pharmacy, laboratory, care coordination and the Senior Care Network. Leveraging his strong foundation of quality and service excellence, Dr. Kamdar will use a data-driven approach to build upon the hospital’s strong clinical engine. His focus will be to improve processes and clinical operations, decrease variations in care and create a high reliability organization focused on safety and exceptional patient outcomes.

“I’m so pleased to welcome Dr. Kamdar to the executive management team,” says Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “Dr. Kamdar’s collaborative leadership and dedication to patient safety and quality excellence will not only enhance our quality and safety but cultivate our patient experience initiatives and clinical advancements.”

Dr. Kamdar joins Huntington from UCLA Health, where he served in multiple leadership roles to enhance quality including as director of quality for the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, a senior quality officer and the clinical director of the UCLA Biodesign Program.

Dr. Kamdar has an impressive background in both training and study. He graduated from UC Berkeley, where he studied political science, then received two concurrent degrees: his MD from Stanford School of Medicine and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Southern California. Dr. Kamdar later completed his residency in anesthesiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and then his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Dr. Kamdar also serves as a board member of Salastina, a non-profit, Pasadena-based, chamber music group that helps support quality music throughout the city and provides unique, educational programming in our community.

Keeping those New Year’s resolutions

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Keeping those New Year’s resolutions

Ah, January… Humanity’s reset button. Just like Pavlov’s dogs salivating at the sound of a bell, the “ringing” in of January 1 signals a desire in many of us to start the year out fresh with new healthy habits. During #DryJanuary, we stop drinking to reset our livers. We give our lungs a breath of fresh air by quitting smoking and doing cardio. We try new diets and finally get on that expensive stationary bike to shed the extra weight of the previous year. We decide enough is enough with substance abuse. Congratulations for hitting that button! Yay, humans!

So… how are those resolutions going? Great? Great! Not so great? You’re not alone.

A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that most people abandon their resolutions within the first month. And our top excuse? According to clinical psychologist, Joseph Luciani Ph.D., the stress that comes with changing our habits sabotages our efforts.

But there’s hope. Many experts agree our success in sticking to our resolutions can depend on how we pursue them. Here are six ways to help you be successful.

1. Know why you are picking a specific goal. Add up the pros and cons. If the positive aspects of changing the behavior outnumber the negative, you can really get behind making the change because changing becomes more advantageous than not. It’s also helpful to look at what you’re afraid of missing out on if you make the change (perhaps a “con” you listed). For example, if you are quitting drinking, you might think your social life will suffer. Instead of focusing on the not drinking part of social gatherings, think of the other parts of socializing that you can still enjoy: food, conversations, games, activities, mocktails. You can also change it up with your friends: choose activities that do not typically involve drinking – like yoga, hiking, getting coffee – and do that with them instead.         

2. Make a plan for success! Whatever your goal is, schedule it on a calendar (or pencil in replacement activities if you are quitting something), and act as if it’s just as important as a work meeting or a doctor’s appointment – because it is. Make your environment amenable to your new reality: If you’re quitting something, get rid of the thing and the equipment associated with it. If you are starting something, surround yourself with the tools necessary for success. Research your goal. Learn about it. Be your own personal assistant by planning ahead to make your goal easier to achieve. For example, if the goal is to eat healthy and exercise, the night before, set out your workout clothes, pack a healthy lunch and fill your water bottle. When you wake up, it’ll feel like someone is helping you, then give yourself a hug for loving yourself – the hallmark of a happy, effective person.            

3. Shout it out to the world! (Or a friend… that works too…) When you decide to make the leap, it’s good for others to know so that they can “keep you honest.” Not only will they try to keep you on track if you’re thinking about ditching your goal; showing that you are accountable to your goal invites a private cheering squad you might never knew existed.

4. Be nice to yourself. Pat yourself on the back for making a change. Celebrate your successes – big or small. Goals are often achieved through incremental changes. You can’t run a marathon without training. To reach the 26-mile goal, you need to take the first step. If that’s all you can muster in one day, at least you’re one step closer than you were yesterday. Celebrate it. Condemning yourself for not “getting to the finish line” before you’re ready is a great way to talk yourself into never reaching it.  

5. Turn stopping into starting. According to researchers at Stockholm University, people tend to be less successful at quitting a habit (like smoking) and more successful at starting a habit (like exercising). A way around this is to reframe your mindset: figure out how quitting an unhealthy habit is a way to start a healthy one (thus, negating the unhealthy one). For example, if you want to quit smoking, and you tend to smoke on your break, walk on a treadmill instead so that you are spending your smoking time doing exercise. Natural endorphins, the “feel-good chemicals” released from exercise, are known to reduce stress, depression and anxiety – three key contributors to chemical dependency. The main idea behind this approach is to replace an unhealthy habit with a healthy one.

6. Setbacks are not the end of the world (nor the end of your goal). If you momentarily quit your resolution, think of it as a lesson and learn from it. You took a drag, then immediately snuffed it out? Good. You didn’t smoke the whole thing. You ate a bite of a doughnut, then gave the rest to a co-worker? It’s OK. You’ll do better next time. Give yourself a break and figure out what happened. What circumstance made you go back to the habit? Was the goal too big? Can you break it into smaller parts? Understanding the lapse can make you stronger for the next temptation to quit. Don’t forget: with every setback, there is a new beginning – and we know how much humans like new beginnings… Happy New Year!    

But Clifford Feldman, MD, medical director, Della Martin Center, Huntington Hospital, makes a good point about resolutions and substance abuse: “You don’t have to wait for New Year’s.” And you don’t have to do it alone. If you are struggling with chemical dependency, the Della Martin Center provides inpatient and outpatient mental health services and chemical dependency recovery services. Its trauma-informed, person-centered, recovery-oriented framework creates personalized treatment plans for each individual. “If you are serious about sobriety, get help today. The help is there; don’t wait,” Dr. Feldman urges.

Patricia Sanchez, MSN, RN, manager, psychiatric services, Della Martin Center, agrees: “Our outpatient mental health programs are a perfect starting point for substance abuse recovery and mental health or maternal mental health concerns,” Patricia explains. “Our team is always here as a resource for those in our community.”

For more information, go to https://www.huntingtonhealth.org/our-services/mental-health/.

Best of luck with your goals. Huntington is rooting for you!

References

Andersson, G., Carlbring, P., Oscarsson, M. & Rozental, A. (2020). A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals, PLOS ONE, December 2020, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0234097

Dickson, J., Dodd, A., Huntley, C., Moberly, N. & Preece, D. (2021). Self-Regulatory Goal Motivational Processes in Sustained New Year Resolution Pursuit and Mental Wellbeing, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, March 2021, https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3084

Luciani, J. (2015). Why 80 Percent of New Year’s Resolutions Fail, U.S. News & World Report, December 2015,  https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-fail

Harvard Medical School. (2020). Seven steps for making your New Year’s resolutions stick, Harvard Health Publishing, November 2020, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/seven-steps-for-making-your-new-years-resolutions-stick

A message from Huntington Hospital about the upcoming holiday weekend and COVID-19

Posted on by Dorey Huston
A message from Huntington Hospital about the upcoming holiday weekend and COVID-19

With the upcoming holiday weekend, we are anticipating a possible influx of patients. Our emergency department volume along with wait times is expected to be higher than usual. As the only Level II trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley and the only emergency room in Pasadena, we have set-up temporary tents to allow more space for those awaiting treatment in our emergency department, should we need to.

Over the next week, Pasadena is expecting tens of thousands of visitors. It’s important that we don’t let our guard down and continue to protect ourselves from the spread of COVID-19, particularly the highly contagious Omicron variant, by masking, physical distancing and avoiding large groups. Also, if you haven’t already, please get vaccinated, and if you are eligible, get your booster shot, for optimal protection.

Please note, Huntington Hospital does not offer testing for COVID-19 to the public. For a list of testing locations, go to:

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, it’s important that you seek immediate care. Call 9-1-1 or go directly to the nearest emergency department.

For a list of Huntington resources that support non-life-threatening illness or medical needs, go to: Huntington Hospital Outpatient Locations | Huntington Hospital

Huntington Hospital's Continuum of Care. For primary care (ex., routine exams, annual physicals, ongoing care for non-emergent conditions and overall wellness services) contact Huntington Health Physicians at www.huntingtonhospital.org/hhp. For urgent care (ex., broken bones, sprains and strains, cuts, scrapes and rashes, fevers, vomiting and/or diarrhea) contact Exer Pasadena (3160 E. Del Mar Blvd., Suite 110, Pasadena, CA; 626-270-2400; www.exerurgentcare.com/pasadena) or Exer La Canada Flintridge (475 Foothill Blvd., La Canada, CA; 818-528-6377; www.exerurgentcare.com/lacanada). For emergency care (ex., suspected heart attack or stroke, sudden loss of consciousness, major burns, bleeding that will not stop, or severe unexplained pain) contact Huntington Emergency Department (100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA; 626-397-5112; www.huntingtonhospital.org/emergency). For trauma care (ex., injuries sustained during an accident, fall or attach) call 911 or contact the Huntington Trauma Center (100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA; 626-397-5112).

Congratulations to 2020 DAISY Team Award winners, 6 East and DOU

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Congratulations to 2020 DAISY Team Award winners, 6 East and DOU
Daisy Award Winners 2020 - 6 East
6 East 2020 Daisy Award Winners
Daisy Award Winners 2020 - DOU
DOU 2020 Daisy Award Winners

As a designated Magnet hospital, Huntington Hospital is a recognized leader in nursing excellence. Every day, our nurses go above and beyond for our patients, and we are proud to recognize them for their efforts. After much delay due to the pandemic, we were finally able to celebrate 6 East and DOU for their achievement: Huntington Hospital’s 2020 DAISY Team Awards!

6 East was nominated by a patient who wrote the following:

“This was my first hospital stay ever in my life. I would really like to recognize these nurses and staff: Diane, Kristofer, Lilian, Maria and Angelica. All of them were extremely comforting, caring, compassionate, prompt, polite and efficient at their jobs. Lilian, Maria and Angelica kept me and my wife comfortable and in good spirits, and met my basic needs. We always had ice water and never lacked for anything. Diane and Kristofer were the best; they kept my pain under control by being prompt and accurate when administering my medication, which was required to maintain my pain levels from getting out of control. I cannot express how grateful I am for all their care. They went above and beyond. I would also like to give a standing ovation to the 6E staff/team,
especially the night shift!”

DOU was nominated by a patient who wrote the following:

“I ended up in a bed that self-adjusts, but because of a physical condition, it created discomfort on my back. I became quite agitated and asked to be moved to a different bed, one that did not self-adjust. I became more agitated when I found out all the beds self-adjust and aimed my anger at Ray. Throughout the evening, he remained calm and supportive, making sure I was as comfortable as possible. For the remainder of my lengthy stay, he was never anything less than pleasant and professional. He was friendly. I had a procedure that was stressful and will always remember many of the details, but I will also remember the kindness and patience of Ray.

My nurse Laura was also cheerful, professional and reassuring. She was supposed to be off the next day, and I was surprised to see her; she was called in to cover on her day off. I heard a visitor raising their voice at her, and it made me reflect on my behavior with Ray previously. After that encounter, Laura came into my room. There was no evidence in her expression or manner that anything stressful had occurred. I never saw anything but care and comfort with professionalism. By the end of my stay, I felt a deep respect and sense of friendship for Ray and Laura. I wanted you to hear my story firsthand from me so that you could hear the true emotion in my heart that I feel for them.”

Congratulations, 6 East and DOU, for your well-deserved DAISY Team Awards! For more information about the DAISY Award, please visit www.huntingtonhospital.com/daisyform

Healthy holiday habits: Tips for eating healthy

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Healthy holiday habits: Tips for eating healthy

‘Tis the season to over-indulge, and who can blame us? Holiday fare like grandmother’s fork-print peanut butter cookies, fried latkes and sufganiyot, and creamy mashed potatoes are delicious!  Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice your health goals when it comes to enjoying holiday foods. Here are some tips to take control of your health during the holidays.     

Swap ingredients for healthier, but toothsome, treats:

  • Choose Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or mayonnaise in dips and casseroles
  • Top your dishes with toasted sliced almonds or chopped pistachios in lieu of fried onion rings
  • Use apple sauce to replace oil, butter or margarine in baked goods
  • Pick low sodium broths and salt-free seasonings for your dishes

Enhance the color, texture and nutritional quality of your delights with seasonal produce

  • Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, purple carrots and green beans can make gorgeous, tasty side dishes
  • Apples, pears and cranberries are naturally sweet choices that can be mixed with traditional pie and cake spices for a delicious winter dessert

Practice mindful eating habits during gatherings

  • Eat a small snack before the event to avoid arriving overly hungry
  • Drink water before enjoying an alcoholic beverage to limit excessive liquid calories
  • Socialize away from the food to limit grazing
  • Choose your favorite foods; skip dishes you don’t really care for 

Want more help? Talk with a registered dietitian to individualize your eating plan this holiday season. Visit www.huntingtonhospital.org/nutritioncounseling for more information.

U.S. News & World Report Names Huntington Hospital a High Performing Hospital for the Best Hospitals for Maternity

Posted on by Dorey Huston
U.S. News & World Report Names Huntington Hospital a High Performing Hospital for the Best Hospitals for Maternity

Huntington Hospital has been recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time U.S. News has published a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity.

To be recognized among the Best Hospitals for Maternity, hospitals had to excel on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including complication rates, C-sections, whether births were scheduled too early in pregnancy, and how successfully each hospital supported breastfeeding. Only one-third of the hospitals evaluated by U.S. News for maternity care earned a ‘High Performing’ rating. 

“All families deserve to be informed on how hospitals perform on key indicators of quality, which is why U.S. News has compiled and published a trove of maternal health data from hospitals across the country,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News & World Report. “The hospitals we’ve recognized as High Performing meet a high standard in caring for patients with uncomplicated pregnancies.”

Huntington Hospital earned a “High Performing” rating in Best Hospitals for Maternity. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News awards for that type of care.

“Deciding where to have a baby is an immense life decision, and we are so honored to provide our expectant parents with safe, custom birth experiences at our hospital,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “We have a long history of exceptional maternal care which spans generations within our community, and this latest distinction is a testament to our continued growth and commitment to providing safe, excellent care to our patients and babies. Congratulations to the dedicated nurses, physicians, and staff at our Family Birth Center and Mother and Baby Unit for earning this inaugural designation in maternity from U.S. News & World Report. I’m very proud of their work and this achievement.”

Unique to the U.S. News site, participating hospital profiles are a one-stop-shop and include a variety of relevant offerings for parents-to-be including key measures of safety, alongside services and amenities, like private rooms, valet parking, and availability of child birthing classes.

The evaluation looks at hospital data relating to only uncomplicated pregnancies, not high-risk pregnancies. Participating hospitals responded to a survey from the U.S. News health analysis team in the spring of 2021 which reflects data from 2019. Participation was voluntary. We anticipate updating Best Hospitals for Maternity in the summer of 2022, to coincide with the release of the 2022-23 Best Hospitals for Procedures & Conditions ratings.

Learn more about maternity care by finding an OBGYN affiliated with Huntington Hospital and give your baby the best start in life.

Celebrating Thanksgiving: A recipe for good health from Dr. Shriner

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Celebrating Thanksgiving: A recipe for good health from Dr. Shriner

I’d like to thank everyone in our community who has received the COVID-19 vaccine thus far and for those who continue to follow infection prevention measures to help prevent the spread of the virus. We have learned so much about this disease, and thankfully, we are in a much better stage of the pandemic than a year ago. Now, the holidays are here – a time to reconnect and resume many of the traditions we have with our friends and family.

That said, in many areas of the country and in our state, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise. I urge you to continue being mindful of COVID-19 with the guidance of the CDC below:

  • Protect those not yet eligible for vaccination such as young children by getting yourself and other eligible people around them vaccinated.
  • Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings if you are not fully vaccinated.
    • Even those who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission.
      • Outdoors is safer than indoors.
    • Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
    • If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t host or attend a gathering.
    • Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

If you are considering traveling for a holiday or event, visit CDC’s Travel page to help you decide what is best for you and your family. CDC still recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated.

Wishing you good health and wellness as we safely celebrate the season. For more information, please visit: Holiday Tips (cdc.gov)

-Kimberly Shriner, MD, is the medical director of infection prevention and control, Huntington Hospital

Huntington Hospital provided nearly $135.2 million in community benefits in 2020

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Huntington Hospital provided nearly $135.2 million in community benefits in 2020

As part of its non-profit mission, Huntington Hospital provides significant benefits to the communities it serves, often in the form of health education, outreach, and low or no-cost hospital care for the uninsured and those with limited means. In 2020, the hospital provided an estimated total of $135,181,987 worth of health care services and support to residents of the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.

“As we know, 2020 brought the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a devastating and enormous challenge for the entire world,” says Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital.  “We detail in our annual Community Benefits Report our response to the pandemic to focus our efforts to provide essential care when it was needed most and be of service for our community. From COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, to hospital-based care for our sickest patients – all the while remaining a source of trusted information in a rapidly changing environment – we remained nimble and responsive. We also made it a priority to stay connected, shifting support programs to virtual when shutdowns and health restrictions were in effect. While we are thankfully on the road to recovery from COVID-19, I’m extremely proud of our efforts to provide health and well-being to our entire community throughout this time.”

In addition to providing care as a result of COVID-19, community benefits support research, education, and training, including clinical research, graduate medical education programs, scholarships, and continuing education in nursing and many other disciplines as well as benefits directed to the community-at-large, such as seniors, other vulnerable populations or the underserved, and those suffering from specific diseases (such as heart failure).

These community benefits also include charity care for those patients unable to pay, as well as care expenses underwritten by the hospital that reflect the differences between the actual cost of the care and the amount of money received for patients covered by Medicare and/or Medi-Cal.

In 2020, Huntington Hospital provided:

  • 60,191 visits to Emergency & Trauma Center
  • 5,876 visits to Huntington Ambulatory Care Center for low- or no-cost primary and specialty care
  • 4,083 patients received free nurse navigation services
  • 3,182 community members received complimentary flu shots
  • 1,300 community members had a free on-campus COVID 19 test
  • Staff collaborated with city and county departments to perform COVID-19 testing for over 9,000 local residents and essential workers at the Rose Bowl Stadium
  • 280 hours in weekly Breastfeeding Support Groups
  • 3,261 callers benefited from Senior Care Network Resource Center support and referrals
  • 6,580 individuals participated in the 50+ Health Connection Membership of Senior Care Network
  • Senior Care Network Noon Hour lectures went virtual after in-person meetings closed and had up to 721attendees each, especially for COVID 19 topics
  • 550people received free health screenings & counseling

Even during the pandemic, Huntington Hospital supported current and future caregivers by providing health education and training programs for our internal medicine, general surgery and pharmacy post-grad residents as well as for nursing students and departmental interns.

These benefits, and many more, are described in detail in an annual Community Benefits Report recently submitted to the state. To review the complete report, please visit: 2020 Community Benefits Report.

Halloween safety tips from local pediatrician John Rodarte, MD, Huntington Health Physicians

Posted on by Dorey Huston
Halloween safety tips from local pediatrician John Rodarte, MD, Huntington Health Physicians

We can all agree, Halloween 2021 is shaping up to be a much better one than Halloween 2020! With Covid-19 cases trending downward in Southern California and many people already vaccinated against the disease, families are looking forward to doing some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating. However, with our youngest children still ineligible for vaccination, some precautions are still warranted.

STAY SAFE OUTDOORS:

Outdoor trick-or-treating in small groups is still the safest way to go. Being outdoors with good ventilation reduces the spread of Covid-19. If trick-or-treating in high density areas with lots of other adults and children on sidewalks and doorsteps, incorporate an appropriate face mask over the nose and mouth into your child’s costume for children 2 and over. Remember, costume masks are not a suitable substitute for barrier cloth or surgical masks, since they usually contain ventilation openings for the nose or mouth.

SAFETY FIRST:

Keep in mind that Covid-19 is not the only risk to trick-or-treaters, or perhaps even the biggest one. Pedestrian injuries are still the most common injuries to children on Halloween. Be sure to walk in groups, have flashlights for adults leading the group, especially when crossing streets, and consider reflective tape for costumes or trick-or-treat bags. Individual pre-wrapped food items are the safest goodies for your little trick-or-treaters to enjoy.

MASK UP INDOORS:

If attending an indoor trick-or-treat party or event outside of your immediate household circle, be sure to wear a Covid appropriate face mask and try to maintain safe physical distancing. Trick-or-treating this year may present a few more challenges and safety concerns. However, with a little preparation and appropriate precautions, families can still enjoy a fun evening of trick-or-treating.

So be safe….and Happy Halloween!

-John Rodarte, MD, is a pediatrician at Huntington Health Physicians – Descanso Pediatrics office in La Canada, California.