News Releases

Paulding County Hospital Hires New HR Director

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

At Paulding County Hospital’s recent board of trustees meeting CEO Gary Adkins updated members on the new human resources director. “Melanie Rittenour will be joining our staff on July 28^th. She comes to us from NOCAC where she has seven years of experience as their HR Director,” Adkins reported.

Chief Operating Officer, Randy Ruge reported:

· Paulding County Hospital will become one of only 8% of breast imaging centers in the country and one of only a few area hospitals to offer digital mammography. Digital mammography has been found to detect cancer better than film mammography in women fifty and under; those that are premenopausal or have become menopausal within a year of their last mammogram; and those with dense breasts. This lifesaving technology will be available at PCH this summer. The American College of Radiology recommends that women 40 and over have an annual mammogram.

· On June 23^rd a new in-house DEXA Scan unit (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) was installed. The device aids physicians in diagnosing patients that may have brittle bones known as osteoporosis. The device uses low dose x-rays to measure the density of the patients’ bones. Learning the density of the bones allows the physician to prescribe medications that may help prevent fractures. PCH is now offering full body DEXA scans on a daily basis rather than the mobile unit that was formerly here twice a month. DEXA scans are recommended for women 65 and over and for men and women that are at a risk for developing osteoporosis at an earlier age. Those risk factors include family history of osteoporosis, family history of hip fracture and fragility fracture before age 40 or in a family member. Certain medications, lifestyles, diets, and diseases may also put a person at risk for early development of osteoporosis.

· Dr. Walsh, who has a urology clinic in the outpatient area on Tuesdays, is now performing extracorpeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) at Paulding County Hospital. The physician directs shockwaves through the body into kidney stones, reducing them to sand like material that is easily passed through the urine. This procedure is done on an outpatient basis.

Gary Adkins reported that he and Ruge met with Senator Sherrod Brown and discussed the 340B drug purchasing plan which is being reviewed with Senate Bill 1376. Adkins stated, “ This bill will provide discounts to the hospital for prescription drugs that we would pass on to the community. Senator Brown is co-sponsor of this bill and we are encouraged by his support”.

Concerning the master facility plan, Adkins announced that he expected to hear from the architects this month concerning the changes that will be made to the physical plant of the hospital. This may include changes such as private rooms and a possible ER expansion. Also being investigated is the feasibility of aquatic therapy and changing the space where infusion therapy is performed.

On June 17 & 18 Paulding County Hospital took part in a pandemic flu drill that encompassed Northwest Ohio. This drill helped to identify our strengths and weaknesses in providing care in the most dire of circumstances.