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Community Memorial Hospital Partners Celebrate Donate Life Month in April at Flag Raising Ceremony Event highlights the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation, and honors donors. (Ventura, California) Community Memorial Hospital joined thousands of hospitals and community organizations nationwide in April to celebrate National Donate Life Month, including hosting a flag raising ceremony at the hospital on Tuesday, April 20th. The celebrations are designed to help encour...age Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. Our team sees firsthand the lives saved by the willingness of others to give life, said Diane Drexler, CMH’s Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. The flag raising ceremony is an opportunity to recognize the generosity of families who have offered this gift to others while experiencing a profound personal loss. At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20th, CMH, in partnership with OneLegacy, the world’s largest nonprofit organ, eye and tissue recovery organization, hosted a flag raising ceremony to highlight the importance of donation and celebrate donors and recipients. Speaking at the event were Reverend Curtis Hotchkiss, CMH’s director of Spiritual Care Services; Drexler; and Alexa Delima and Angela Bolaris of OneLegacy. Ellen Langston of Ventura represented a donor family and transplant recipient Jennifer Vasilakos of Ojai also attended. A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people and improve the lives of up to 75 more people by donating their corneas and tissue, says OneLegacy. Nearly 40,000 life-saving transplants were performed in the U.S. in 2020, according to the organization, which also notes that nationwide, over 107,000 people are on waiting lists for a donated organ. To become a donor, people can register with the Department of Motor Vehicles or online at www.OneLegacy.org/Register. To help facilitate organ recovery and placement, CMH is one of over 200 hospitals and nine transplant centers in Southern California that works directly with OneLegacy. Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system that comprises Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, a skilled nursing facility, and several primary and specialty care clinics that serve communities throughout Ventura County, California.

‘Small Footprints’ Recycling Events Set for May 1-2

Learn about the ROSA Robotic Knee Replacement at a Free Webinar on May 12 (Ventura, California) Getting a precise knee implant fit is important for both comfort and functionality but achieving the perfect fit is a challenge because each person’s anatomy is unique. The ROSA Knee System brings together robotic technology and industry-leading knee implants to help surgeons personalize surgical procedures, achieve greater precision, and carefully tailor the knee implant’s placeme...nt. Find out if ROSA Knee is right for you at a free online event that takes place from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12. To RSVP, visit www.cmhshealth.org/RSVP. This event is hosted by Community Memorial Health System as part of its 2021 Speaker Series Online. The ROSA Knee System is a robotically assisted surgical system that includes features to assist with bone resections and assessing the state of soft tissues to facilitate implant positioning intraoperatively. Data provided by ROSA allows surgeons to use computer and software technology to control and move surgical instruments, allowing for greater precision and flexibility during procedures. The webinar presenter is Dr. John Ross Burge, a hip and knee reconstruction specialist with extensive joint reconstruction training. His expertise includes robotic-assisted joint replacement, computer navigation joint replacement, revision hip and knee construction, minimally invasive surgery, partial knee replacement, and anterior and posterior hip reconstruction. Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system that comprises Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, a skilled nursing facility, and several primary and specialty care clinics that serve communities throughout Ventura County, California.

Create an Advance Directive and Enjoy Art at a Free Virtual Healthcare Planning Webinar on April 21 (Ventura, California) In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Community Memorial Health System is encouraging community members to create their advance directives while enjoying a virtual night at the art gallery. This free online event takes place from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21. To RSVP, visit www.cmhshealth.org/RSVP.... Advance directives are documents that tell others how you want medical decisions to be made for your care if you can’t speak for yourself. They allow you to give your instructions in cases when you may be unconscious or impaired by dementia or other health conditions. These legal documents tell your family, friends and healthcare providers what kind of care you want, what you don’t want, and who you’d like to make healthcare decisions for you if needed. Community Memorial Health System will support people through the process as they join CMHS for a special event enjoying a virtual night at the art gallery featuring music and the works of gifted artists. All the while, participants can complete an advance directive from the comfort of their own home. Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, the Centers for Family Health, and various outpatient centers serving communities located within Ventura County, California.

The light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel is getting closer! Currently, all Californians ages 50 and up are eligible for the vaccine, and on April 15, eligibility will expand to include ages 16 and up.

Community Memorial Hospital Launches ROSA Total Knee Replacement Surgery Program CMH joins Ojai Valley Community Hospital, which launched its ROSA Knee program in late 2019. (Ventura, California) Community Memorial Health System is expanding its successful year-old ROSA Total Knee Replacement System program, bringing knee replacement surgery with the ROSA robots to Community Memorial Hospital. CMH and Ojai Valley Community Hospital remain the only hospitals in the Tri-Counti...es offering this cutting-edge technology. The expansion of CMHS’s ROSA Knee replacement surgery program comes as doctors have performed over 50 knee replacement surgeries at the Ojai hospital using the ROSA Total Knee Replacement System, a new robotically-assisted surgical system that enhances total knee replacement surgery. After experiencing such positive outcomes with the ROSA robot surgeries in Ojai, CMH purchased two new ROSA robots for use at CMH. On December 4th, Dr. Robert Mazurek performed the first ROSA knee replacement surgery at CMH. Physicians can now operate a total of three ROSA robots at both the Ojai and Ventura hospitals. We are pleased to grow the ROSA surgery program and bring the latest technology to the communities we serve, said CMHS President and CEO Gary Wilde. Total joint replacement is among the most commonly performed elective surgeries in the United States today. The ROSA system combines robotic technology with industry-leading knee implants to help surgeons personalize knee replacement surgery for patients. The ROSA system offers a more precise knee implant fit. The ROSA knee system includes features to assist with bone resections and assessing the state of soft tissues to facilitate implant positioning intraoperatively. Data provided by the robot enables surgeons to use computer and software technology to control and move surgical instruments, allowing for greater precision and flexibility during procedures. The result is a highly personalized approach that eliminates many of the problems associated with traditional knee replacements. Visit cmhshealth.org/rosa to learn more about the procedure. Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system that comprises Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, a skilled nursing facility, and several primary and specialty care clinics that serve communities throughout Ventura County, California.

Ojai Valley Community Hospital Receives Top Ranking in Patient Satisfaction Survey! Ojai Valley Community Hospital is one of only 10 hospitals in California to ...make the newly compiled list from Becker’s Hospital Review of the top-rated hospitals for patient experience. Using scores from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Becker’s compiled a list of the best hospitals for patient experience in each of the 50 states. Hospitals either received five or four-star ratings based on a list of criteria from patient surveys. Becker’s Hospital Review is a major publication in the healthcare industry. Ojai Valley Community Hospital and the other nine California hospitals on the Becker’s list all received a top five-star rating. Ojai Valley Community Hospital is the only hospital in Ventura County to make the list. I could not be prouder of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital staff and volunteer partners who regularly demonstrate incredible skill, compassion and dedication to our patients, said Haady Lashkari, Chief Administrative Officer at OVCH. The recognition as one of the top-rated hospitals for patient experience in the state of California is a testimony to the exceptional care that patients can expect to receive at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. Ojai Valley Community Hospital is a 25-bed acute care hospital with an emergency room, four beds for Intensive Care patients and 21 medical/surgical beds that also can serve patients needing skilled nursing care. The hospital recently opened a new, modern Continuing Care Center (skilled nursing facility) with 75 beds. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the HCAHPS survey is the first national, standardized, and publicly reported survey capturing the perspective of patients with regards to their hospital care. While many hospitals in the past have gathered information on patient satisfaction for their own internal use, there’s previously been no national standard for gathering and publicly reporting information about patients experience of care that allowed hospitals locally, regionally and nationally to be compared, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. The HCAHPS survey allows for objective and meaningful comparisons of hospitals on topics consumers care about, it incentivizes hospitals to improve their quality of care, and it enhances accountability and transparency in the quality of healthcare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. Patients discharged from hospitals are asked a series of questions on topics including communication with nurses and doctors, the responsiveness of the hospital staff, the cleanliness and quietness of the hospital environment, communication about medicines, discharge information, an overall rating of the hospital, and if patients would recommend the hospital. See more

Happy Thanksgiving from the Harrisons

When you protect your own health, you are also helping to protect the health of your family, friends and community. As we continue to fight this pandemic, remember to do your part by wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands.

Congratulations to our client, The Steamboat Inn, in Historic Jefferson, Texas, for an amazing breakfast! Come visit this charming B&B in Historic Jefferson for a step back in time. WWW.steamboatinntx.com.

Thanks to the Ventura Breeze for a nice writeup in its latest issue on our 30th anniversary and our new website, at http://whizcomm.biz.

Community Memorial Health System Hosts FREE Virtual Presentation on Nov. 11 Highlighting Cancer Prevention and Screening During the Pandemic (Ventura County, California) Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19. It’s still important to maintain healthy habits to reduce your risk of cancer even if you spend more time at home to prevent transmitting or catching the coronavirus.... Whether or not you’ve previously faced a cancer diagnosis, it’s important to pay attention to changes in your body and symptoms that may indicate a need for medical intervention. The risk today to go to a doctor’s office or diagnostic center for a cancer screening is very low, said Dr. Thomas Fogel, a radiation oncology specialist and member of the CMH staff. Dr. Fogel advises people to talk to their doctor to learn which screenings they are due or overdue for, which screenings they need now, and which screenings can wait. Routine screenings include mammograms, pap smears, colon cancer screenings, PSA tests, general physical exams, blood tests and annual skin cancer exams. The bottom line is engaging with the health system is safe, Dr. Fogel said. Everyone is taking the necessary precautions. In addition to screening the patients, we are screening the staff. The best thing to do is have a consultation with your doctor which can be done through telemedicine in a phone call or video conference. To share the latest clinical recommendations for preventing cancer during the pandemic, Community Memorial Health System is hosting a free virtual presentation at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11. Medical experts leading this free virtual presentation on Zoom will share: Whether routine cancer screenings should be continued or postponed during the pandemic. The importance of early detection. Alternative testing options that may be available. Screening done safely, such as wearing a mask and asking the screening facility about precautions they have taken to protect patients. The role of diet and physical activity in cancer prevention. This virtual presentation is free but registration is requested. Please register at this link: cmhshealth.org/rsvp. The event is sponsored by the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, https://www.cmhfventura.org/.

Ojai Valley Community Hospital Celebrates 50th ROSA Total Knee Replacement Surgery OVCH is the only Tri-counties hospital to offer the new ROSA Total Knee Replacement System (Ojai, California) Ojai Valley Community Hospital is pleased to share that doctors have performed the 50th knee replacement surgery at the Ojai hospital using the cutting-edge ROSA Total Knee Replacement System, a new robotically-assisted surgical system that enhances total knee replacement surgery. ...Continue reading

Community Memorial Health System Offers Low-Cost Mammograms and Breast Screenings During October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and one of the most important things to know about prostate cancer is that early screening can save lives.... Check out our latest blog post to learn about symptoms, risk factors, when and how to get screened, and more: https://bit.ly/2Z5Zp5p See more

Great advice from CMH.

Congratulatiions to CMH!

Great news for Ventura County!

BIG NEWS! Community Memorial Health System to Reopen Inpatient and Outpatient Non-Emergent Surgical Procedures on May 11th Extensive Safety Protocols in Place to Protect Patients and Staff (Ventura, California) Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura will resume its medically-necessary elective and non-emergent surgical procedures beginning Monday, May 11th 2020. After suspending such procedures at the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in mid-March, Community Memor...Continue reading

Community Memorial Health System Emergency Departments are OPEN (Ventura, California) Community Memorial Health System is grateful to everyone in the community for doing their part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus by staying home during this time, but now more than ever, CMHS wants people to know that it’s SAFE to seek care at Community Memorial Hospital and Ojai Valley Community Hospital. If you need care, DON’T WAIT until your condition worsens. It’s important that... patients not put off coming in to see us when they need care, said Dr. Neil Canby, Emergency Department physician at Community Memorial Hospital. We understand that people may be apprehensive to seek care during this time, but we have put a number of policies and procedures in place to protect the health and safety of everyone who enters our hospitals and emergency departments. Some of the enhanced policies CMHS has introduced to keep all patients safe, including non-COVID-19 patients, include: Mandatory Coronavirus (COVID-19) screening for everyone who enters the Emergency Departments and hospital facilities, including patients, essential companions, physicians and staff. Mandatory use of surgical masks for everyone in the Emergency Departments, regardless of their COVID-19 status. Continued use of separate treatment areas for patients who present with COVID-19 symptoms and those who do not. Continued use of separate waiting areas (including waiting in vehicles) and phone registration following appropriate screening, in order to minimize contact and maintain social distancing standards. Continued use of enhanced sterilization and cleaning protocols of individual patient treatment rooms and entire Emergency Departments to ensure optimal cleanliness and minimize potential spread. Continued restriction of visitors (one essential companion only) in the Emergency Departments and hospital facilities to limit potential exposures. CMHS understands that people may be apprehensive to seek treatment during this uncertain time, but encourages people to rely on CMHS for the care the community has come to know and trust. Community Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room is located at 147 N. Brent St. in Ventura (805-652-5011) and the Ojai Valley Community Hospital ER is located at 1306 Maricopa Highway in Ojai (805) 646-1401. Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, the Centers for Family Health, and various outpatient centers serving communities located within Ventura County, California.

50 Years Earth Day 2020