River Valley Health System is expanding its outreach through enhanced community education programs, Connie Lowe, RN and director of nursing, told trustees during their monthly meeting this week.

Thursday, December 02, 1999

River Valley Health System is expanding its outreach through enhanced community education programs, Connie Lowe, RN and director of nursing, told trustees during their monthly meeting this week.

Women’s health and related programs, such as bone density testing, are the subject of increasing requests for speakers, Mrs. Lowe said. The seniors group at Mamre Baptist Church was the most recent organization to hear about the hospital’s new programs that focus on health problems particular to women of all ages.

In other business during Tuesday night’s meeting, trustees:

Approved the change from consulting to active status for Robert Hess, M.D., emergency room.

Approved an addition to privileges for Benjamin Roach, M.D.; Mark Pack, M.D.; David Pack, M.D.; and Pacifico Dorado, M.D. The additional privileges permit the four to perform stereotactic breast biopsies using new equipment recently implemented at RVHS. All four have completed advanced training in performing the biopsies.

Heard a report from CEO Terry Vanderhoof that while Home Health Agency nursing and home health aide visits are down compared to the same period last year, physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy visits are showing dramatic increases.

Nursing and home health aide visits are down due to a change in Medicare funding that has affected all home health providers, Vanderhoof said.

Were told by Vanderhoof that the hospital’s new fixed-base MRI unit is being used extensively and is providing physicians with much-needed comprehensive diagnostic data.

Trustees attending the meeting included chairman Bob Griffith, Jim Weber, Glenda Marting, Eileen Vass-Brown and Don Lambert. Rodolfo Canos, M.D., was absent.