Suicide survivors day Nov. 23

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Lehigh Valley Chapter, will observe AFSP's 15th annual International Survivors of Suicide Day from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 23 in Conference Room B, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. The program is free; refreshments will be served. Participants are welcome to bring a photo of their loved one to place on a memorial table. For information or to pre-register, email richardorlemann@lehighvounty.org or call 610-782-3553.

St. Luke's Gynecologic Oncologists Nicholas Taylor, M.D., and Israel Zighelboim, M.D. hosted a benefit dinner Oct. 19 to support the Foundation for Women's Cancer and its efforts to raise awareness of gynecologic cancer. The event, partially sponsored by SLUHN and by Maple Springs Vineyard, raised nearly $15,000.

The menu featuring locally sourced produce and wild caught fish over pasta and prepared by Chef Pippa Calland of central Pennsylvania. A winner of the Food Network's "Chopped"and a three-time featured chef of the James Beard House, she has established the Foundation for Women's Cancer / Liza Chance Memorial Fund to support ovarian cancer research.

For information and /or to donate, visit www.foundationforwomenscancer.org. For gynecologic oncology at St. Luke's University Health Network, visit www.sluhn.org and search for gynecologic cancers.

SLUHN offers unique procedure

St. Luke's University Health Network – Allentown Campus surgeons were the first to perform a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as bilio-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS). The procedure was performed laparoscopically by co-medical director of Bariatric Surgery for St. Luke's, Maher El Chaar, MD, FACS, FASMBS; with the assistance of co-medical director Leonardo Claros, MD, FACS, FASMBS.

BPD/DS is a unique procedure typically performed on extremely morbidly obese patients, those with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 50. "The results exceed that of traditional gastric bypass," stated Dr. El Chaar. For information, visit www.sluhn.org/bariatrics.

SLUHN Cardiology in top 50

SLUHN has been named, for the sixth time, one of the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, formerly known as Thomson Reuters,a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare.

The study evaluates, for the past 14 years, performance in key areas: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.

SLUHN Colon Cancer talk

St. Luke's University Health Network will host a free, open to the public "Know The Facts: Catch a Killer with Colon Cancer Screening" program at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. Luke's Anderson Campus, Medical Office Building, Conference Rooms A & B.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in both men and women, according to The American Cancer Society, but that rate is declining thanks in part to advances in early detection. "If colon cancer is found and treated early, while at Stage 1, the five-year survival rate is about ninety percent," says Berhanu Geme, M.D.

The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about one in twenty, or five percent, and is slightly lower in women than in men. Patients should get screened if they are over 50 or have bloody stools, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, and constipation.

LVHN receives awards

Lehigh Valley Health Network's two hospitals, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, each received an A grade from The Leapfrog Group in its fall 2013 update to the Hospital Safety Score. The rating reflects how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections.The hospitals have received straight A's since the inaugural Patient Safety Score was published in 2012.

LVH was one of 66 hospitals in the state to be inacluded as one safest U.S. hospitals. The list was published in the April-May edition of AARP The Magazine. The magazine teamed up with The Leapfrog Group to showcase what some of the most innovative hospitals are doing to prevent errors. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety score is compiled under the guidance of the nation's leading experts on patient safety. Visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org for the list and for safety tips for patients and their families.

LVHN PAncreatic Caner Night

Lehigh Valley Health Network and J's Run, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer, will hold a free Pancreatic Cancer Education Nightat 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Lehigh Valley Hospital- Cedar Crest. There will be meetings with individuals with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and their family members. Medical oncologist Ranju Gupta, M.D., will talk about changes in care for pancreatic cancer and about the advances in research and what it may mean for people with pancreatic cancer in the future. Surgical oncologist Rohit Sharma, M.D., will discuss the why's, who's when's how's and what's of pancreatic cancer screening. Those with a family history of the disease are encouraged to attend to learn about current screening recommendations and next steps is anything if detected through the screening process. Call 610-402-CARE (2273) to register.

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