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John Rodarte, MD, featured in Outlook Newspapers

Posted on January 8, 2018February 22, 2020 by Workforce

John Rodarte, MD, pediatrician at Huntington Health Physicians, and chair, department of pediatrics, Huntington Hospital, was featured in the Outlook Newspapers recently in a story about the great work he does in an impoverished neighborhood in Mexico.

Dr. Rodarte helped create Healing Hearts Across Borders, a nonprofit group that visits Tijuana every three months to see and treat patients at the clinic they established there.

As the head pediatrician at Descanso Pediatrics, which is a part of our partner medical group Huntington Health Physicians, Dr. Rodarte takes care of our community’s children along with families in Mexico who otherwise wouldn’t have access to health care.

To read the article, click here.

Huntington Hospital named to 2017 list of top 100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs by Becker's Hospital Review

Posted on January 2, 2018August 25, 2021 by Workforce

Becker’s Healthcare has named Huntington Hospital to “100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs list for 2017.” The hospitals included on this list are national leaders in orthopedic care. Many are high volume joint replacement centers and have earned recognition for knee and hip replacements as well as spinal procedures. These hospitals and health systems also engage in research and clinical trials to further advance the field of orthopedics.

To read the entire list, as well as a description of Huntington Hospital’s program, please visit: Becker’s Hospital Review

Note: Hospitals and health systems cannot pay for inclusion on this list, and organizations are listed in alphabetical order.

Our renowned Huntington Orthopedics program includes expert staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques. Find a local orthopedist near you that is affiliated with Huntington Hospital.

What should you do if you get the flu?

Posted on December 28, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

With a recent spike in flu cases, our Emergency Department physician, Brandon Lew, DO, has the following advice* to offer our community:

Prevention is ideal, but once you or a family member are experiencing flu-like symptoms it’s important to know your options – and the ER should not necessarily be your first choice.

The flu shot, hand washing and avoiding sick people are all important preventative measures during flu season. But when you get sick, knowing options for treatment is important. Because the flu can make you feel so awful, it’s not unusual for people to think they need to go to the emergency room for treatment. However, our Emergency Room is the only one of its kind in Pasadena, and as a Level II Trauma Center we receive patients throughout our region with severe and life-threatening injuries. This means that wait times for non-life-threatening conditions could be longer than normal, especially during flu season and given the increased number of visitors in town at this time of year. We appreciate that does not provide the kind of quick access to care people are hoping for, and can certainly lead to frustrations – especially when you aren’t feeling well.

Considering alternate options to the emergency room when you don’t have a life-threating illness is the best course of action.

While there are a number of medical conditions that are considered emergencies because they require either advanced or rapid treatment that are only available in a hospital setting, many cases of the flu can be treated outside of the ER and a hospital. Pasadena and the surrounding communities have a host of local urgent care clinics, including Pasadena Community Urgent Care, our partner facility. Additionally, your primary care physicians office should always be the first consideration as they are aware of your medical history.

Typical flu symptoms include a fever, sore throat, cough and/or body aches. In many cases, people with the flu do not require medical treatment; staying home, getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids is what is best for a fast recovery. However for severe cases of the flu, or for those with more delicate medical conditions, anti-viral treatment can be effective – especially when taken within 48-hours of symptom onset. Most primary care physician offices and urgent care clinics are able to provide anti-viral treatments, so calling your doctor or going to urgent care should be your first line of defense for treating the flu. Both a primary care physician’s office and an urgent care clinic should have shorter wait times than an emergency room, and often if you call they will let you know in advance how long the wait will be. For your visit, it’s always helpful when patients can provide a list of medications they are taking and any allergies they may have.

It’s not too late to get vaccinated.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu is to get an annual flu vaccine. The more people who are vaccinated, the more people will be protected from the flu – which is especially beneficial for older people, very young children, pregnant women and those with long-term health conditions or compromised health. Call your doctor or pharmacy today and schedule a flu shot.

*Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition

Santa Claus Visits Huntington Hospital Pediatric Patients

Posted on December 21, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

On December 21, 2017, the Pasadena Police Air Operations Section and the Foothill Air Support Team (FAST), along with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, touched down from the North Pole (via their own rotor-equipped sleigh) to conduct their annual Christmas Toy Drive for Huntington Hospital pediatric patients.

This event was funded through the generous contributions of Pasadena Police employees and Officer Associations participating in the FAST program throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Thank you to Phillip L. Sanchez, Chief of Police, Pasadena Police Department and his team for once again bringing gifts and holiday cheer to Huntington Hospital patients!

Huntington Cancer Center Receives National Accreditation from American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer

Posted on December 13, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation to the cancer program at Huntington Cancer Center. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

Because it is a CoC-accredited cancer center, Huntington Cancer Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.

“At Huntington Cancer Center, we provide the latest cancer treatments and technology,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “This designation recognizes the commitment of our team of physicians and nurses to provide personal, high-level care from diagnosis, to treatment, and throughout survivorship, to help improve the quality of life for our patients during this difficult time.”

The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for Huntington Cancer Center to improve its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, Huntington Hospital maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society. This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world. Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2016. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed patients with cancer. When cancer patients choose to seek care locally at a CoC-accredited cancer center, they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home. The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services, and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program through the CoC Hospital Locator at https://www.facs.org/search/cancer-programs.

About American College of Surgeons

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. For more information, visit: www.facs.org/cancer

Pasadena Fire Department’s “Pasadena Goes Pink” fundraising donates over $19,000 to the Jim and Eleanor Randall Breast Center

Posted on December 6, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

For the past seven years, Pasadena Fire Department has partnered with Huntington Hospital during October to bring awareness to breast cancer with “Pasadena Goes Pink” fundraisers. Last week, Pasadena firefighters, along with Basecamp Fitness Pasadena and California Pizza Kitchen/Pasadena, proudly presented a check for $19,032.15 to physicians, nurses and administrative staff to support the Jim and Eleanor Randall Breast Center. This generous donation is the result of fundraising throughout October, which included a walk around the Rose Bowl, a day of fundraising at the California Pizza Kitchen, t-shirt sales and “filling the boot” on the streets of Pasadena. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Danae La Trobe, Pasadena Fire Department, for her role in coordinating these community events that bring ongoing support of breast cancer awareness.

“Eleanor Randall tackled her personal experience with courage, dignity and determination,” said Jane Haderlein, senior vice president, philanthropy and public relations, Huntington Hospital. “It means so much to have the men and women of the Pasadena Fire Department recognize and support women in our community.”

About Jim and Eleanor Randall Breast Center

Jim and Eleanor Randall Breast Center is operated by Huntington Health Physicians, Huntington Hospital’s trusted outpatient physician partner group, and staffed by expert radiologists from The Hill Medical Corporation. Our patients receive rapid access to screening and diagnostics with state-of-the-art technology and expert care for the highest quality breast imaging services. Jim and Eleanor Randall Breast Center (formerly known as Huntington-Hill Breast Center) is conveniently located and provides a tranquil environment along with quick results to ensure peace of mind.

Huntington Senior Care Network featured in Alibaba Pictures and Pasadena Community Foundation Short Film Competition

Posted on November 30, 2017March 30, 2023 by Workforce

Alibaba Pictures and the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) recently partnered to tell stories of “doing good” in Pasadena with the launch of Big Heart Small Film, a short film competition. Showcasing aspiring filmmakers and inspiring non-profits, the Huntington Senior Care Network was featured in an entry, a short film entitled “Happy Anniversary,” which was directed by Muqing Li and produced by Lucas Paz. Special thank you to mentors Ann Hassett and Bob Niemack.

The Huntington Senior Care Network serves community members with the ultimate goal of helping seniors live safely in their homes and communities. This short film expresses the importance of supporting independence and health in older adults, adults with disabilities and their families.

To see “Happy Anniversary” and the other films created for the competition, please visit: https://pasadenacf.org/big-heart-small-films/

For more information about the Big Hearts Small Film event and competition, please visit: https://www.bigheartsmallfilm.org/

Huntington Hospital Hosts 5th Annual Shine a Light on Lung Cancer

Posted on November 27, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

On November 19, Huntington Hospital hosted a lighting ceremony as part of a national campaign to raise awareness for lung cancer. The ceremony was attended by over 90 lung cancer patients and family members as well as hospital administration, staff and physicians from Huntington’s lung cancer program. The program included remarks by Robbin Cohen, MD, medical director for the thoracic oncology program, and Ayman Saad, MD.

“For the past five years, our patients, their families and friends have joined together for this event to help bring awareness to lung cancer,” said Dr. Cohen. “We are grateful to walk this journey with our patients, providing support, hope and comprehensive care throughout every stage of the disease.”

The Lung Cancer Program at Huntington Hospital is recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive programs of its kind in the Los Angeles area. Other members of Huntington Hospital’s thoracic oncology program team that attended Sunday’s event were Scott Atay, MD, Anthony Kim, MD, Kenneth Lam, MD and Michael McFadden, MD, as well as Huntington Hospital’s President and CEO, Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA.

The ceremony was just one of over 200 “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” events taking place in cities across the country in November. The program is presented in partnership with Lung Cancer Alliance, the only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to providing support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for lung cancer. Combined these events mark the largest lung cancer event in the world.

Huntington Hospital Hosts Mobile Intensive Care Training for LA County Nurses

Posted on November 22, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

Recently, Jenny Van Slyke, RN, pre-hospital care coordinator, Huntington Hospital, and Lyn Riley, RN, held a mobile intensive care nurse (MICN) development course for 35 emergency room nurses from all over Los Angeles County. MICNs answer radio calls from paramedics in the field en route to a hospital, allowing care to begin even before the patient arrives. Roger Yang, MD, base hospital medical director, Huntington Hospital, and medical director, Pasadena Fire Department also participated in the training.

Thank you to Pasadena Fire Department Station 33 for hosting the hands-on trauma course and for participating in the event, along with firefighters from South Pasadena Fire Department, San Marino Fire Department, and Arcadia-Monrovia Search and Rescue!

Huntington Hospital’s 2017 Fall Food + Wine Festival Raises $260,000 for Trauma Center

Posted on November 16, 2017February 22, 2020 by Workforce

On October 29, 2017, Huntington Hospital hosted its only annual fundraising event, the Fall Food + Wine Festival on the festive grounds between the Parkway Grill and the Arroyo Chop House in Pasadena. Guests enjoyed gourmet food, fine wines and live music, raising $260,000 to benefit the Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center at Huntington Hospital, the only trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley.

Thank you to Gregg and Bob Smith, co-owners of the Parkway Grill and the Arroyo Chop House, for their many years of partnership hosting this annual fundraising event! Photographed here are Gregg Smith, Brian Birnie, event co-chair, Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital, Amal Obaid-Schmid, MD, medical director, trauma services, Huntington Hospital and Caroline Birnie, event co-chair.