WHEN: Thursday, January 30, 10:30 a.m.

WHAT: The Main Line Health Center at Exton Square will host an official ribbon cutting and grand opening event, featuring remarks from Main Line Health senior leadership, PREIT and local legislators. Tours of the facility, as well as refreshments, will follow the short program. 

WHY: Main Line Health is celebrating the opening of its newest ambulatory care facility, located at the Exton Square Mall. This 32,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art, patient-centered outpatient health center represents the future of medicine. The new design offers an exemplary bundling of physician practices and ancillary services for clinicians to coordinate care in a seamless manner.

WHO: Speakers will include: Jack Lynch, President and CEO, Main Line Health; Eric Mankin, MD, President, Main Line HealthCare; Chris Mrozinski, Vice President, Development, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT); The Honorable Andrew E. Dinniman, Chairman, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Education Committee; and The Honorable Duane Milne, Member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Commerce Committee, and Finance Committee

WHERE: The Main Line Health Center at Exton Square, located at the Exton Square Mall (154 Exton Square Pkwy, Exton PA 19341). Program will be held at the Health Center entrance located inside of the mall. 

Bryn Mawr Film Institute and Bryn Mawr Hospital are teaming up again to present five films as part of the “What’s Up, Doc?” film series. Now in its seventh year, “What’s Up, Doc?” pairs recent hits and Hollywood favorites with introductions by physicians that explore the medical truths behind the films. The special comedy edition of this ongoing series starts with Nancy Meyers’ Something’s Gotta Give on Wednesday, February 12 at 7pm and continues with Jonathan Levine’s 50/50 on Wednesday, February 26 at 7pm, Carl Reiner’s The Man with Two Brains on Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm, Robert Zemeckis’ Death Becomes Her on Wednesday, March 26 at 7pm, and Vincente Minelli’s Father’s Little Dividend on Wednesday, April 9 at 7pm.  All screenings will include themed giveaways, courtesy of Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Something’s Gotta Give– Wednesday, February 12 at 7pm
When an aging playboy (Jack Nicholson) suffers a heart attack during a vacation with his much younger girlfriend, he’s left in the care of her successful playwright mother (Diane Keaton). Things heat up when the age-appropriate pair start to develop feelings for each other in this heartwarming romantic comedy.

Bryn Mawr Hospital Cardiologist Dr. Tarun Mathur will introduce this screening. 

50/50– Wednesday, February 26 at 7pm
Joseph Gordon-Levitt finds humor in unlikely places in this compelling dramedy about a young man diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With a fifty-fifty chance of survival, he relies on the support of his best friend (Seth Rogen) as he struggles to beat the disease and keep his spirits high in the face of grim circumstances.

Bryn Mawr Hospital Radiation Oncologist Dr. Linna Li will introduce the screening.

The Man with Two Brains– Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm
Steve Martin plays one of his wildest characters in this wacky and irreverent comedy about a neurosurgeon who falls in love with a dismembered human brain. Featuring Kathleen Turner as his gold-digging wife and a surprising cameo from a hysterical Merv Griffin, this comedy will keep you in stitches!

Bryn Mawr Hospital Neurologist Dr. Richard A. Eisner will introduce the screening.

Death Becomes Her– Wednesday, March 26 at 7pm
Tempted by the prospect of eternal youth and flawless beauty, a narcissistic actress and her longtime rival get more than they bargained for when each takes a magical cure for aging. Starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis, this zany dark comedy from Robert Zemeckis earned an Oscar for its outstanding special effects.

Bryn Mawr Hospital Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ronald Lohner will introduce this screening

Father’s Little Dividend– Wednesday, April 9 at 7pm
When his daughter Kay announces that she and her husband are expecting a baby, Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) will have to come to terms with the fact that he’s going to become a grandfather. Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Bennett reprise their roles in this classic sequel to the original Father of the Bride.

Bryn Mawr Hospital OB/GYN Dr. Patricia Ischiropoulos will introduce this screening.

Tickets for films are $12 general admission, $9 for seniors and students with ID, and $6.50 for Bryn Mawr Film Institute members. Advance tickets are available in person at the Box Office and online at www.BrynMawrFilm.org.

Main Line HealthCare and Drs. David Galinsky and Raffi Megerian are pleased to welcome Meng-Chao“Mark” Lee, DO to their Shannondell office. Dr. Lee is board certified in Geriatric Medicine, Palliative Medicine & Hospice, and Family Medicine with 10 years of practice experience. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, completed his internship at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his family medicine residency at Montgomery Hospital in Norristown, PA. Dr. Lee also completed a Geriatrics fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA.  He is a member of  the American Geriatrics Society, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, and is on staff at Main Line Health hospitals:  Paoli, Bryn Mawr and Riddle Hospitals, and Lankenau Medical Center. Dr. Lee is fluent in both Mandarin and Taiwanese, and is available as a speaker for community events.      

Dr. Lee sees patients in the Main Line HealthCare offices at Shannondell, located at 10000 Shannondell Drive in Audubon, PA. He accepts most insurance plans including HMOs and PPOs.  For more information you may contact Main Line HealthCare’s Shannondell office at 610.728.5241. 

On February 2, Bryn Mawr Hospital’s Barbara Brodsky Comprehensive Breast Center and Outpatient Radiology Center marked their 10th anniversaries of moving into the newly renovated Founders Building—conveniently consolidating both centers to serve thousands of patients each year with expertise and compassionate care.

“We are proud to mark our 10th anniversary of providing the latest diagnostic imaging services with an emphasis on cancer prevention, early detection and personalized care,” said Brenda DeFeo, VP, Administration. “Our patients appreciate the convenience of having this advanced technology right in their community.”

The Breast Center was the first on the Main Line and the first to use digital mammography, receive National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), to form a newly-diagnosed breast cancer support group and to train breast surgeons throughout the Breast Fellowship Program.

Outpatient Radiology provides advanced imaging and diagnostic services with convenient hours. Outpatient Radiology was the first on the Main Line to install a 1.5 tesla high-field open bore MRI and one of the firsts to utilize PET/CT to aid in cancer diagnoses. The following are the number of radiology procedures performed at the outpatient centers in the past ten years:

• 186,452 mammograms

• 120,977 MRIs

• 105,710 X-rays

• 59,672 ultrasounds

• 18,770 PET/CTs

• 41,316 CT Scans

To learn more about Bryn Mawr Hospital’s radiology and breast health services, visit mainlinehealth.org or call 484.337.4400. 

As the Philadelphia region’s American Heart Association Go Red Champion, Main Line Health is kicking off Heart Month in February with events to help the community become better educated about their own heart health. A listing of events can be found by visiting mainlinehealth.org/gored.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the U.S. and is a leading disease among all people. Main Line Health’s long-standing commitment to providing the community with personalized, advanced cardiovascular care is evident every day in the care that its heart team provides to patients and their families.

The Lankenau Heart Institute is Main Line Health System’s premier, comprehensive cardiovascular medicine and surgery program. The Lankenau Heart Institute brings together the clinical expertise of all four Main Line Health® acute care hospitals and community cardiology practices to ensure that patients receive a level of quality, service, and experience that is unprecedented in the region. Through the coordination of services, system wide, the Lankenau Heart Institute delivers preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative cardiovascular services at each of our locations including Lankenau Medical Center and Bryn Mawr, Paoli and Riddle Hospitals.  

With a collaborative team of expert consultative cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiovascular surgeon and specially trained nurses and technologists, the Lankenau Heart Institute is dedicated to managing and treating patients with heart failure, coronary and peripheral vascular disease, heart rhythm disorders and valve disease. Our team of cardiologists and cardiac specialists provide patients and their families with expert cardiac care, close to home. 

During severe winter weather, all Main Line Health hospitals (Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital, Riddle Hospital, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Mirmont Treatment Center) remain open, operational and ready to serve our patients. Our teams prepare for emergency situations including extreme weather throughout the year, and all staff is prepared to ensure that our hospital operations continue to run smoothly.

With safety in mind, Main Line Health ambulatory centers and Main Line HealthCare outpatient offices will be closed today, February 13, 2014. For immediately necessary lab work or outpatient testing, please contact one of our acute care hospitals and ask to speak with our outpatient registration desks:

Lankenau Medical Center: 484.476.2000

Bryn Mawr Hospital: 484.337.3000

Paoli Hospital: 484.565.1000

Riddle Hospital: 484.227.9400

As always, the safety of our patients and employees remains our first priority.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 25, 6 p.m.

WHAT: The Lankenau Heart Institute’s "Paint the Town Red" event is being held in honor of Heart Month and the women throughout the region with heart disease. The event, chaired by Carol Cutler, heart disease survivor and an active leader of the Women’s Heart Initiative, will feature: beauty consultations from Trish McEvoy beauty consultants from Neiman Marcus, shopping with over 15 local vendors, heart healthy hors d’oeuvres, and a meet-and-greet with members of the Lankenau Heart Institute’s team of female cardiologists.

WHY: To raise awareness of a woman’s risk of heart disease—the number one cause of death in women.

WHO: In attendance at the event: female members of the Lankenau Heart Institute team of cardiologists and clinicians, Trish McEvoy beauty consultants from Neiman Marcus, and 15 local vendors.

WHERE: St. David's Golf Club, 845 Radnor Street Road, Wayne, Pa.

(Bryn Mawr, Pa. – February 24, 2014)– Main Line Health will implement a new “Tobacco Use Impact on Employment Policy” aimed at reducing the use of tobacco and nicotine products among Main Line Health employees. As part of the new policy, Main Line Health will no longer hire tobacco and nicotine users after May 1, 2014. Additionally, when registering for Main Line Health medical benefits, current employees will be required to certify whether or not they use tobacco or nicotine products. Those who use tobacco or nicotine products will pay a surcharge for their health care benefits beginning in 2015.

“As a health system, it is our responsibility to set an example of wellness and disease prevention for our patients, employees and the community,” said Paul Yakulis, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Main Line Health. “And, as good stewards of our financial resources, we also know that placing this focus on smoking – a behavior related to significantly increased medical costs – can improve both our employees’ health and Main Line Health’s financial well-being.”

Smoking is the #1 leading cause of preventable death. Research shows that smoke-free policies can dramatically reduce illness and even death from heart disease. For the past 25 years, Main Line Health has maintained a smoke-free policy within all of its buildings, and in 2009, this policy expanded to include the grounds of each campus. This new effort enhances the health system’s commitment to promoting health and wellness.

Under the “Tobacco Use Impact on Employment” policy, applicants will have to certify that they have not used tobacco products or nicotine in any form in the 90-day period prior to submitting an application to Main Line Health, and that they will remain tobacco-free during their employment with the health system. In addition, their offer of employment will be contingent on a negative nicotine lab screening result.

Employees found in violation of the policy will be subject to disciplinary action, requiring them to complete a smoking cessation program and be subject to random nicotine lab screenings for a two-year period.

To help Main Line Health employees become tobacco-free, the health system offers free smoking cessation classes. The six-class program includes access to Chantix and/or nicotine replacement therapy products as well as individual follow-up support. Employees who complete the classes receive a $100 incentive payment.

Main Line HealthCare and Drs. DeBacco,Duplass, Keeler, and Tedesco are pleased to welcome Beth Ann Bingaman, DO to Goshen Family Practice. Dr. Bingaman is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine with 18 years of practice experience. She earned her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed her internship at the Community Hospital of Lancaster, and her family medicine residency with Bryn Mawr Hospital. She enjoys partnering with and caring for entire families —  from children through grandparents. Dr. Bingaman has a special interest in preventive care and women’s health issues, as well as routine care and follow-up of other medical problems such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Osteopathic Association, and is available as a speaker for community events. Dr. Bingaman is on staff at Main Line Health® hospitals: Paoli, Bryn Mawr and Riddle Hospitals, and Lankenau Medical Center.  

Dr. Bingaman sees patients age 2 and older at the Goshen Family Practice office located in Suite 101 at 1161 McDermott Drive in West Chester, PA. She accepts most insurance plans including HMOs and PPOs and has same-day appointments available. For more information you may contact the office at 610.701.7011.  

During severe winter weather, all Main Line Health hospitals (Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital, Riddle Hospital, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Mirmont Treatment Center) remain open, operational and ready to serve our patients. Our teams prepare for emergency situations including extreme weather throughout the year, and all staff is prepared to ensure that our hospital operations continue to run smoothly.

With safety in mind, Main Line Health ambulatory centers and Main Line HealthCare outpatient offices will delay opening until 10 am on Monday, March 3. For immediately necessary lab work or outpatient testing before that time, please contact one of our acute care hospitals and ask to speak with our outpatient registration desks:

• Lankenau Medical Center 484.476.2000

• Bryn Mawr Hospital: 484.337.3000

• Paoli Hospital: 484.565.1000

• Riddle Hospital: 484.227.9400

As always, the safety of our patients and employees remains our first priority. Please check back for any changes or updates to this message.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the U.S. Faced with these daunting facts, Dr. John Marks, Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Main Line Health and Director of the Mirable Colorectal Cancer Center at Lankenau wants Americans to have candid conversations about both prevention and treatment so they are better prepared should they or loved ones develop this common and deadly cancer.

“Many people are talking about colorectal cancer prevention which is great. But too few people are talking about treatment options,” says John Marks, MD, Lankenau Medical Center, Main Line Health. “Let’s take the stigma away from learning about treatment so that more people aren’t afraid to talk about these problems and can have access to the new technology and microsurgeries that can save lives and preserve bowel function.”

Under his leadership at Lankenau, a part of Main Line Health, 90-95% of colorectal surgeries are performed laparoscopically. The sphincter preservation rate for this approach, which eliminates the need for a colostomy bag, is 93% at Lankenau vs. 40-60% for the national average.

Dr. Marks advocates that people have their first colonoscopy screening at age 50, eat a healthy diet, and get plenty of exercise. Traditionally for many patients with colorectal cancer, treatment means the loss of the sphincter and the prospect of a life with a colostomy  bag. This makes people afraid to even get checked.

Dr. Marks has set the global standard of care for colorectal treatment. His presentation on his approach was recently named the best session at an American College of Surgeons meeting. Beyond the sphincter statistics, outcome data shows the recurrence rate of cancer at Lankenau is 2.3% vs. a 10-25% national average and the hospital’s survival rate is 88% compared to 68% nationally.

About Dr. Marks
Dr. Marks is a graduate of Yale University and Thomas Jefferson Medical School where he also interned, completed his surgical residency, and completed his colorectal fellowship. He did an advanced minimally invasive fellowship at the University of Nice, France.

A breakthrough rectal procedure that spares colon function, which was developed by John Marks, MD, Medical Director of the Colorectal Cancer Program at Lankenau Medical Center, continues to receive attention from surgeons around the world.

To learn how to cure rectal cancer without the need for a colostomy bag and even minimal scars, Dr. Itzel Vela, Surgical Oncologist at the National Cancer Institute of Mexico in Mexico City, came to work with Dr. Marks for a month. Dr. Marks was an invited professor at the National Cancer Institute in Mexico this past fall. While there, Dr. Marks presented three lectures on Lankenau’s minimally invasive colorectal surgical and robotics program and performed a live laparascopic colorectal surgery televised to several hundred physicians attending a conference there. Following his visit to her hospital, Dr. Vela, who is in charge of spearheading minimally invasive colorectal surgery at the National Cancer Institute, was so impressed by Dr. Marks’ work at Lankenau that she and her hospital director arranged for her to visit and learn from him for a month.

“After witnessing Dr. Marks’ expertise at our hospital, I asked him if I could come to Lankenau to train under him so that I could bring this innovative procedure using robotics back to my patients,” said Dr. Vela.  “Since I have been at Lankenau, I have been able to observe not only the TATA procedure but also Dr. Marks’ innovative approach to patient care. I treat a lot of patients with colorectal cancer--this breakthrough procedure would enhance the lives of so many in my country, allowing them to live without a colostomy bag.”

Dr. Marks is honored that the TATA procedure is having such a global reach.  “To change the lives of so many colorectal cancer patients by avoiding a colostomy is very gratifying. Dr. Vela’s visit is an example of how we can foster growth of this technique not only throughout the U.S., but also in other countries,” explained Marks.

Dr. Vela can now take her knowledge back to the National Cancer Institute of Mexico for approval to begin performing the TATA. She hopes to perform the procedure this summer.

Dr. Marks, an international leader in the field of colorectal surgery, has performed over 2,000 minimally invasive colorectal procedures and treated over 1,000 rectal cancer patients, who come from across the country and around the world to be cured of their cancer and avoid a colostomy bag. He performs several other surgical techniques, including Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery and Single Incision Laparoscopic procedures for patients with a diagnosis rectal or colon cancer. For more information about these procedures at Lankenau Medical Center, call 1.866.CALL.MLH.

Lankenau Medical Center (LMC) has received the Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. The award recognizes LMC’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted guidelines. This marks the 4th consecutive year that Lankenau Medical Center has been recognized with a quality achievement award.

Get With The Guidelines–Stroke helps LMC’s staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes to improve patient care and outcomes. The program provides hospitals with a web-based patient management tool, best practice discharge protocols and standing orders, along with a robust registry and real-time benchmarking capabilities to track performance. The quick and efficient use of guideline procedures can improve the quality of care for stroke patients and may reduce disability and save lives.

“Lankenau Medical Center is dedicated to making our care for stroke patients among the best in the country. The AHA’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke program helps us to accomplish this goal,” said Eileen German, Director of Quality Improvement at Lankenau Medical Center. “This recognition demonstrates that we are providing a superior experience to our patients and we are very proud of our team.”

Following Get With The Guidelines-Stroke treatment guidelines, patients are started on aggressive risk-reduction therapies including the use of medications such as tPA, antithrombotics and anticoagulation therapy, along with cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation counseling. These are all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients. Hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a designated period of time to be eligible for the achievement awards.

“Recent studies show that patients treated in hospitals participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program receive a higher quality of care and may experience better outcomes,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. “Lankenau Medical Center’s team is to be commended for their commitment to improving the care of their patients.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Bryn Mawr Hospital and Riddle Hospital have also received recent recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. For more information about stroke care at Main Line Health, visit mainlinehealth.org or call 1.866.CALL.MLH.

The Riddle Hospital Intensive Care Unit has been awarded The Gold Level Beacon Award, a significant recognition for the unit’s journey to exceptional patient care and optimal outcomes. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) created the Beacon Award to recognize North American hospital units whose caregivers that employ evidence-based practices to successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with gold, silver or bronze designations, meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award. The Gold Level designation signifies excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes by meeting the following criteria: (1) Leadership Structures and Systems (2) Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement (3) Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, Learning and Development (4) Evidence-Based Practice and Processes (5) Outcome Measurement.

“It is with great excitement and pride that I can offer congratulations to the outstanding nursing team, their leadership, our physicians, the many interdisciplinary colleagues and other Riddle employees, for achieving such a prestigious award,” shares Ann Marie Brooks, Vice President of Patient Care Services. “This recognition is especially important for our patients and their families since the Beacon Award signifies exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall satisfaction. For all of us working in the hospital, it shows our commitment to excellence every day to make Riddle Hospital and Riddle’s ICU the best place for care and work!”

Stephen S. Aichele, Esq., a partner in the real estate practice at Saul Ewing, has been appointed Chair-Elect to the Board of Governors of Main Line Health, effective February 11, 2014. For the past 35 years, Aichele’s legal career has focused primarily on project development. He has represented major developers and governmental entities in permitting, financing, construction, leasing and management, and he has participated in the acquisition and development of numerous major real estate projects throughout Pennsylvania.

In welcoming Aichele back to the Board, George W. Gephart, Jr., current Board Chair, said: “It is an honor to work with the Main Line Health Board and leadership, and I am proud of the accomplishments we have made on behalf of the health system. I am pleased Steve has accepted the position of Chair-Elect, as his professional expertise and commitment to Main Line Health’s mission of community service will benefit our health system greatly as we continue delivering superior care to the communities we serve.”

“We are honored to have Steve join our Board of Governors and know his leadership skills and business acumen will make him an asset to our organization,” said Jack Lynch, president and CEO, Main Line Health. “He is an exceptional community leader, and has a strong knowledge of our health system, our values and our mission, having previously served on the Main Line Health Board, the Paoli Hospital Foundation Board and the Riddle Hospital Board. His commitment to serving our community will help us successfully carry out our vision of providing a superior patient experience.”

In accepting the appointment, Aichele said, “I’ve always been impressed by the excellence of the entire Main Line Health organization and with the enthusiasm with which they approach their vision of providing superior and compassionate health care to the community. I look forward to again serving with this great group of people.”

Between 2011 and 2013, Aichele served in Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s administration, first as General Counsel and then as Governor Corbett’s Chief of Staff. Before leaving Saul Ewing to work in the Corbett Administration, he held several leadership roles at the firm, including serving as Managing Partner and as the Firm Chairman. Prior to joining Saul Ewing, Aichele served more than four years active duty in the U.S. Navy and retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve after 25 years of service with the rank of Captain. He also served his home community, Tredyffrin Township, for more than fifteen years, on both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

In 2009, Aichele was named “Businessman of the Year,” Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Aichele was designated a “Who’s Who Legal” by The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Real Estate since 2006; named to “The Best Lawyers In America” list, Real Estate Law, by Woodward/White, since 2006; and named by Chambers USA as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” since 2006 and one of “America’s Leading Lawyers in Real Estate,” since 2005.  In addition, Aichele was designated as one of the “Top 100 Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Super Lawyers” in the areas of Real Estate Law and Eminent Domain in 2005 and a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer,” by Philadelphia Magazine and Law and Politics Magazine in 2004.  

Aichele’s memberships include the Philadelphia International Airport Advisory Board, Life Fellow, Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, American Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Union League, and former Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.

Aichele and his family reside in Malvern, PA.

Lankenau Medical Center has once again been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health AnalyticsTM,  a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare, and is one of only five hospitals in Pennsylvania to receive this designation. This is the third time Lankenau Medical Center has been recognized with this honor.

“This award from Truven Health Analytics is a representation of the superior health care the LMC team provides to our patients each day,” says Phil Robinson, President of Lankenau Medical Center. “This designation reflects the dedication and commitment of our physicians and staff who work collaboratively to ensure the quality of our clinical programs and care. Congratulations to the entire Lankenau staff for demonstrating a commitment to excellence.”

The Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals® study identifies hospitals and leadership teams that provide the highest level of value to their communities, based on a national balanced scorecard. The 100 Top Hospitals balanced scorecard measures hospital performance across 10 areas: mortality; inpatient complications; patient safety; average patient stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.

For the 100 Top Hospitals® study, Truven Health researchers analyzed public information — Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website.

The winning hospitals were announced in the March 3, 2014, edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.

“This year’s 100 Top Hospitals represent the highest national standards in hospital care and management today. They set the benchmarks for peers around the country to follow — consistently delivering outstanding quality of care, satisfaction, and community value at a reasonable cost,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and the 100 Top Hospitals® program at Truven Health Analytics. “The majority of the 2014 award winners have produced year-to-year performance improvement, as well. This speaks to the consistent focus on excellence by the entire organization and the men and women who serve patients.”

The study shows that if all hospitals in the U.S. performed at the level of this year's winners:
•    Nearly 165,000 additional lives could be saved
•    Nearly 90,000 additional patients could be complication-free
•    More than $5.4 billion could be saved
•    The average patient stay would decrease by half a day

More information on this study and other 100 Top Hospitals research is available at 100tophospitals.com.

MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) and Main Line Health have signed a clinical collaboration to enhance access to high quality health care services at MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Under the agreement, physicians from Main Line Health’s multi-specialty physician network, with more than 2,000 doctors, will serve as collaborating physicians for MinuteClinic locations in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. The collaboration will include future clinics as part of MinuteClinic’s national expansion plan to add 150 new clinics this year and reach a total of 1,500 clinics in the U.S. by 2017.

In addition, MinuteClinic and Main Line Health will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.

“Main Line Health is recognized nationally for delivering high quality care and joins MinuteClinic in our commitment to bring more accessible and affordable medical services to patients in Southeastern Pennsylvania,” said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  “We look forward to having Main Line Health physicians collaborate with MinuteClinic’s nurse practitioners to provide quality support, teaching and back-up so MinuteClinic can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost.”

MinuteClinic medical clinics in Southeastern Pennsylvania are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for acute illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

“Main Line Health is committed to making health care as accessible as possible for our communities,” said Jack Lynch, President and CEO of Main Line Health. “Engaging in this new partnership ensures our community has access to basic care when and where they need it, and, when more advanced care is necessary, our Main Line Health team will be available to provide appropriate treatment and an exceptional patient experience."

MinuteClinic and Main Line Health will begin to work toward integrating electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual’s care.  With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other facilities and physicians for an individual’s continuity of care.  In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours, with patient consent.

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat, and write prescriptions for common illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder, and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, pertussis and hepatitis A & B are available at all locations. Walk-in camp, sports, college, DOT, and other administrative physicals are available daily. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

MinuteClinic has received three consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission and its most recent accreditation was affirmed last month following a survey of new clinic locations included in MinuteClinic’s national expansion.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in Southeastern Pennsylvania are open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Main Line HealthCare and Drs. Baker,Brand, Conwell, and Romano are pleased to welcome Steven Cytrynowicz, DO to Upper Providence Family Medicine. Dr. Cytrynowicz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine with more than 10 years of practice experience in both general internal medicine and urgent care. He earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Allentown, PA, and his internal medicine residency with Thomas Jefferson Health System Residency Program at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, PA. Additionally, he holds a Master’s degree in Bioengineering from Penn State University. Dr. Cytrynowicz has a special interest in preventive care and men’s health issues, as well as routine care and follow-up of other medical problems such as: diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, American Osteopathic Association, and American Medical Association and is on staff at Main Line Health hospitals: Paoli,Bryn Mawr and Riddle Hospitals, and Lankenau Medical Center.  

Dr. Cytrynowicz sees patients aged 17 and older at Upper Providence Family Medicine located in the Main Line Health Center at 599 Arcola Road in Collegeville, PA. He accepts most insurance plans including HMOs and PPOs and has same-day appointments available. For more information you may contact the office at 484.565.8440.  

The Board of Trustees of Jefferson Health System (JHS) voted today to restructure in order to provide the autonomy and agility that is required for its members –TJUH System, the parent entity of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Inc.; Main Line Health System (MLH); and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital – to respond to healthcare reform and pursue individual growth strategies and priorities. The organizations will continue to maximize opportunities to work collaboratively.

The restructuring will enable each organization to manage its own strategic decision-making and financial oversight while continuing their existing joint programs, clinical services and academic affiliations. The restructuring will also allow TJUH System and Main Line Health to pursue new ways of working with each other and create the flexibility for each to explore other strategic relationships. Similar opportunities will be evaluated by Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

“Today’s healthcare environment requires that we reimagine the way healthcare is delivered,” said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and TJUH System. “We collectively realized that the existing corporate structure needs to be changed to allow us to be more entrepreneurial, nimble and responsive. Jefferson looks forward to an increasingly vibrant clinical and academic relationship with Main Line Health.”

Jefferson Health System does not provide direct patient care. JHS was formed in 1995 to provide overarching business management functions for its members, including consolidated capital acquisition and financial oversight; joint contracting with payers; quality benchmarking; development and management of new provider network structures, such as the ACO-PA, the JHS-affiliated Accountable Care Organization; joint purchasing; self-insurance for hospitals, physicians and other providers; compliance oversight; and internal audit. TJUH System and MLH intend to continue jointly operating ACO-PA and the insurance programs.

TJUH System and Main Line Health Continue Clinical, Academic and Research Partnerships; Excellence in Patient Care

“This new structure will greatly enhance our ability to react quickly to the rapidly changing clinical and academic landscape, but it changes nothing in terms of patient care. Both Jefferson and Main Line Health patients can expect continued excellence in terms of direct care from their physicians and our staffs,” said Jack Lynch, President and CEO of Main Line Health. Lynch added that the existing joint programs and clinical services will continue as follows:

• MLH, Paoli Hospital’s Regional Trauma Center affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Trauma Program

• MLH’s Neurosurgery program affiliation with the Jefferson Neurosciences Network

• MLH and TJUH System’s partnership in the Jefferson Transplant Institute

• MLH, Riddle Hospital’s membership in the Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center Network

• Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Inc.’s Radiation Oncology service at MLH, Riddle Hospital

• Joint research between Thomas Jefferson University and the MLH Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

• MLH and Thomas Jefferson University will continue their long-standing academic affiliation, and MLH will continue as a training site for medical students, residents and other health professions students of Thomas Jefferson University

The restructuring will not impact the employees of TJUH System, MLH or Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. JHS has a relatively small number of employees and each will be offered the opportunity to transition to positions within TJUH System and/or MLH or will receive outplacement assistance and severance packages. The JHS Board and member institutions expressed gratitude to these employees for their exemplary service.

Going forward, TJUH System and MLH are establishing three task forces for medical education, medical research and patient care to explore how the two organizations can enhance their working relationship.

The transaction requires regulatory approval. The definitive agreements will be finalized over the coming months with the restructuring expected to close on July 1, 2014.

Scientists at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) and Dynamis Therapeutics recently published a study entitled “Meglumine Exerts Protective Effects Against Features of Metabolic Syndrome and Type II Diabetes” in the leading online biomedical research journal PLOS ONE. In their study, they report the discovery that meglumine, an FDA approved derivative of the sugar-free sweetener sorbitol can reduce high blood sugar and triglycerides, improve muscle function and reduce diabetic complications.

Diabetes and the pre-diabetic condition called metabolic syndrome are becoming increasingly common medical issues in the United States, with almost 19 million people diagnosed with diabetes and as many as 7 million undiagnosed cases. Ongoing clinical management of blood sugar is critical, as many diabetic patients with uncontrolled blood sugar develop heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system damage and other life-threatening problems.

Sorbitol, a sweet substance found in fruit that is used in sugar-free chewing gum and candy, has been known to reduce blood sugar by stimulating its absorption by muscle. However, clinical studies have shown that sorbitol cannot be used to treat diabetes or metabolic syndrome because it can cause uncomfortable gastrointestinal side effects, and may even increase certain diabetic complications such as nerve damage, cataracts and retinopathy.

In looking for a better alternative to sorbitol without the undesirable side effects, LIMR Research Assistant Professor Arturo Bravo-Nuevo, PhD and his colleagues tested the sorbitol derivative meglumine for its ability to control high blood sugar. In their preclinical study, the LIMR and Dynamis researchers discovered that meglumine produced striking effects on muscle associated with anti-diabetic effects. Meglumine markedly reduced triglyceride levels in the blood and liver along with the onset of diabetic kidney disease. Notably, muscle stamina and glycemic (sugar) control were both improved, without any apparent side effects including any of the gastrointestinal issues produced by sorbitol.

As Dr. Bravo-Neuvo noted, “It is exciting that one safe supplement might not only control high glucose and triglyceride levels but also prevent kidney deterioration and improve muscle stamina at the same time.”

The findings of the LIMR and Dynamis research teams support further clinical study of meglumine as a safe, inexpensive supplement for counteracting metabolic syndrome, improving muscle function, and reversing diabetes and its complications. Meglumine is currently used as a binding agent in pharmaceutical compounds to improve their stability and absorption, so it has a safe, benign history and its use has already been accepted by the FDA. Given its positive effects observed on the muscular system, meglumine may also have the potential to serve as an exercise supplement for preventing muscle fatigue and perhaps increasing strength.

About Dynamis Therapeutics, Inc.

Dynamis Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing proprietary new drugs to treat chronic inflammatory disease. Its proprietary drug candidates inhibit a novel enzymatic pathway that causes the formation of a highly reactive sugar, 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG). Scientific evidence suggests that elevated 3DG causes metabolic, neurological, and dermatological diseases, ranging from diabetic retinopathy (blindness) and nephropathy (kidney disease) to inflammatory skin conditions and aging. The Company’s first medical products are drugs against dry eye and the complications of diabetes. For more information, please see dynamis-therapeutics.com.

About Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

Founded in 1927, the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia on the campus of Lankenau Medical Center. Part of Main Line Health, LIMR is one of the few freestanding, hospital associated medical research centers in the United States. The faculty and staff at the Institute are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the causes of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This information is used to help improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases as well as find ways to prevent them. LIMR is also committed to extending the boundaries of human health and well-being through technology development and the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians. To learn about LIMR, visit limr.org.