University Hospitals

Drug Take Back Day is a tradition each spring and fall, with University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic collaborating to collect unwanted medications?from people across Northeast Ohio as part of building a safer and healthier community. “University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic continue to collaborate to advance the health needs of our communities by focusing on the prevention of substance misuse,” says?Jeanne?Lackamp, MD, Chair, Department of Psychiatry at UH Cleveland Medical Center and Director, Behavioral Health Institute at UH Health System. “This Drug Take Back Day is one example of our joint approach to reduce unintentional drug overdose deaths.” This fall’s event on October 26?did not disappoint. All told, UH volunteers collected 41 boxes of medications from 211 people, while distributing 77 boxes of Narcan and 202 fentanyl test strips. But perhaps the most meaningful interactions UH volunteers had surrounded access to Narcan and fentanyl test strips, says clinical pharmacist Rachel Pierce, PharmD, one of the lead UH volunteers for the event. “One gentleman noted he had called 911 due to someone overdosing the very day before and did not have any Narcan to administer,” she?recalls.?“He said he also has multiple colleagues currently using illicit drugs and was grateful to now have fentanyl test strips and instructions to hand out.” That’s an interaction with impact. Of course, this work is ongoing. If you missed this fall’s Drug Take Back Day, the spring event will be here before you know it at the end of April. Alternatively,?you can visit one of UH’s permanent year-round collection locations listed here: https://lnkd.in/gVbuv5m2 #drugtakebackday #healthandsafety #healthycommunities #opioidcrisis #patientsfirst

Congratulations to our Marketing team at UH for their outstanding showing in this year’s eHealthcare Leadership Awards. Now in its 25th year, this leading awards program draws approximately 1,000 entries annually. It exclusively recognizes the best websites and digital communications of healthcare organizations (both large and small), online health companies, pharmaceutical/medical equipment firms, agencies/suppliers, and business improvement initiatives. This year, UH won a Platinum Award for Best Social Media, with the judges recognizing innovative approaches like short-form videos of our medical experts answering frequently asked questions and “bite-sized” infographics designed for easy comprehension. In addition, our Back Pain Campaign also won a Platinum Award for Best Search Engine Marketing. By focusing on consumers searching for remedies for back pain, we were able to connect them with our experts as they sought relief. Our overall approach to healthcare content also won a Gold Award. “It’s more important than ever to deliver content that cuts through the digital noise,” says Joanna Laytin, Vice President of Brand Marketing. “At University Hospitals, we develop original, consumer-friendly and actionable healthcare content for our audiences. Creating once and publishing everywhere, our surround-sound content translates complex medical data into digestible health information.” Kudos to the Marketing team for a job well done! Read more at https://lnkd.in/gWKiqVxu #healthinformation #healthliteracy #patienteducation #patientsfirst

Happy Perioperative Nurses Week! Our perioperative nurses play a crucial role in every step of surgical care, providing organization and comfort from pre-op to post-op. Patients rely on our UH nurses for understanding and compassion. Once in the OR, these nurses work hand in hand with our surgical teams to ensure everything runs smoothly, and they continue to support patients by guiding them through the healing and recovery process. Thank you to these specialized nurses for bringing stability and so much more to the surgical experience. We appreciate the incredible work you do, and so do our patients! See what Mary L., Registered Nurse Level 1 BSN, Surgical Services, has to say about her career journey and what she loves most about being a part of the UH team. Join our team and enhance your skills as a Perioperative Nurse! https://lnkd.in/eQhb2EAg #PerioperativeNurse #UHNursing #UHProud #UHCareers

Today, we announced a $3.225 million gift from community leaders Ernie and Patti Novak to Because of You: The Campaign for University Hospitals. The funds will support construction of the new Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center and the caregiver education, training and simulation programming that will occur there. “For generations, UH has held fast to its mission: To Heal. To Teach. To Discover. That unwavering commitment, in both good and challenging times, distinguishes UH from other health systems and is something Patti and I have long endorsed,” said Ernie, former Managing Partner, Cleveland Office of Ernst & Young LLP. Ernie joined the UH Board of Directors in 1999 and was the inaugural chair of the UH Cleveland Medical Center Board of Directors while Patti, a passionate supporter of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s, was a founding member of the Naples Circle of Friends in Florida. Today, Ernie is an executive cabinet member for our Because of You campaign and is helping lead the effort to fully philanthropically fund the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center. To read the full gift announcement, visit UHGiving.org. #leadership #communityleadership #philanthropy

Every year as part of his annual entity visits, UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, likes to shine a spotlight on our Health Care Heroes. In a recent visit to UH Conneaut Medical Center, Dr. Megerian shined a spotlight on Andrea Balogh, who he also recognized as a Bravo Winner as part of his Cliff Appreciates program. Andrea has been Rehab Supervisor for UH Conneaut and UH Geneva for just over a year. It’s a promotion she earned after 13 years as an occupational therapist and certified lymphedema specialist here at University Hospitals. But what a year it’s been. Andrea’s manager notes that rehab productivity has increased, and all open positions have been filled. In fact, he says, it’s the first time at UH Conneaut and UH Geneva that there are no open positions. Importantly, patient satisfaction has consistently exceeded 95% for both sites during this period. Andrea, he says, is a big part of the reason why. And she has accomplished this impressive feat while navigating the tremendous complexity involved in supervising both inpatient and outpatient rehab clinics at two different sites. However, it’s clear that Andrea’s organization and penchant for detail make her more than up for the challenge. Also important is Andrea’s willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Her teams say they know they can rely on her guidance, no matter the time of day. They point to Andrea’s outstanding leadership abilities on display during the recent conversion to Epic. Andrea spent hours of her free time to learn the new workflows so she could train her teams and assure that they had a smooth transition. She then created workflow handouts for her teams to reference. She even organized pizza parties for her teams after clinic hours where they could learn Epic together as a team. It’s this kind of dedication that will make the investment we’ve made in Epic truly pay off in a big way for our patients. Along with all Andrea has accomplished, she also continues to treat lymphedema patients at UH Conneaut. After she is finished treating her patients and wrapping their extremities, she spends countless extra hours listening to their concerns. Andrea is a stellar example of what we look for in a University Hospitals clinician, caregiver and leader. Her dedication to always helping her team and her demonstrated compassion for our patients is inspiring to us all. Congratulations Andrea! We’re proud to have you as a Healthcare Hero at UH. #UHProud #caregiverspotlight #healthcarehero #serviceexcellence #compassion #rehabilitation #lymphedema #occupationaltherapy

Today, we come together to honor and celebrate those who have bravely served and sacrificed for our country, freedom, and safety. We are deeply thankful for our Veterans, who have made a lasting impact on our nation and continue to inspire our communities. Take a moment to hear from some of our own Veterans about their experiences at University Hospitals and the support they’ve received along their journeys. Join us in recognizing their incredible contributions! #UHProud #UHNursing #UHCareers

Today’s UH Health Care Hero spotlight shines on Scot Aughinbaugh, a pharmacist in the retail pharmacy at UH Geneva Medical Center. As part of his Cliff Appreciates program, UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, is also recognizing Scot as a Bravo Winner. ? Scot is perhaps most well-known for regularly traveling outside the pharmacy to help patients where they are. His co-workers report that he personally delivers prescriptions anywhere in the hospital – whether it’s for a patient on Med/Surg or for a co-worker who’s running short of time. On more than one occasion, they’ve even witnessed Scot personally deliver a prescription to someone waiting in the parking lot. Being an empathetic clinician, Scot intuitively knows that some patients have difficulty getting around or navigating the complex maze of hallways in the hospital. In short, Scot creates tremendous, compassionate impact across the entire UH Geneva Medical Center. ? Co-workers also note Scot’s outstanding demeanor and respectful interactions with patients filling prescriptions in the UH Geneva retail pharmacy. He takes whatever time is needed so that patients understand their medications – answering every question. And he does so in a way that’s easy for patients to understand. It’s not surprising that Scot says the favorite part of his job is taking the time to interact with his patients and teach them about their medications. ? Scot also takes the public health aspect of his job as a pharmacist very seriously. He’s passionate about serving the community, volunteering his time and expertise at local flu vaccination clinics. As with his job at the hospital, the goal is ever-better outcomes for patients and communities. ? Scot joined UH Geneva in 2021, but in just a few short years, his co-workers say he’s set a new gold standard for excellence. They note a level of patient care that goes above and beyond the normal pharmacy experience.?He has created a strong bond of trust that makes excellent care possible. And he makes what can be a confusing and confounding process of managing medications more understandable for everyone. ? Congratulations Scot on being recognized as a UH Healthcare Hero! ? #UHProud #caregiverspotlight #healthcarehero #patientcenteredcare #compassion #serviceexcellence #trust

For Rod Rezaee, MD, a summer research opportunity in college put him on his current course as an immensely successful otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon. “After the mentorship in the lab, that’s where it kind of clicked,” he says. For Dr. Rezaee, the role of mentors in his career, including this one in his undergraduate days, is paramount. He credits the faculty he encountered in medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine with guiding his early career decisions. “I had excellent mentors in medical school who drew me into otolaryngology and head and neck surgery,” he says. “What impressed me was the ability to help people being part of their journey through whatever problem they were facing. It was the anatomy, and it was the challenge of taking care of head and neck cancer patients that resonated with me. It's been a passion since then and continues to be.” Today, Dr. Rezaee is Director of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Reconstruction at the UH Cleveland Medical Center. He’s also Medical Director of the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology unit at UH Seidman Cancer Center and serves on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network? Thyroid Cancer Guidelines Committee as the representative of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. And recently, a physician who cherishes his mentors has been recognized as an outstanding mentor himself. Dr. Rezaee was just recognized by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery with its 2024 Young Physicians Section (YPS) Model Mentor Award. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gemXKy9b #ENT #mentor #headandneckcancer #physicianexcellence #patientsfirst

University Hospitals is hiring for night shift positions across various departments, including Administration, Lab, Nursing, Patient Care Support, Pharmacy, Radiology, Respiratory, and more. Working the night shift offers several benefits, such as flexibility in your daytime schedule for educational pursuits. You'll enjoy a quieter environment, allowing you to focus better on your work and build stronger connections with patients. Our night shift team is close-knit with a positive atmosphere, fostering strong bonds among caregivers. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance and develop your skills. Sign-on bonuses are available for select positions, ranging from $2,000 to $8,000. Explore our career opportunities and apply today! https://lnkd.in/e2z3uP85 #UHCareers

Justin Yax, DO, DTMH, Director of the UH Center for Emergency Medicine's Division of Population Health, was selected as part of Crain's Cleveland Business 2024 Class of Notable Leaders in Healthcare. According to Crain’s, those selected for this year’s class “continue to innovate and educate, not just keeping Cleveland at the center of the health care universe but at the forefront of keeping the public healthy.” In selecting Dr. Yax as a Notable Leader in Healthcare, Crain’s pointed out that as an emergency medicine physician board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease, he has been working in the field of global health since 1999. His biggest career win, Crain’s noted, was creating the Center for Emergency Medicine’s Division of Population Health within UH Cleveland Medical Center. In the community, Dr. Yax collaborates with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, The MetroHealth System (Cleveland, OH) and Cleveland Clinic to augment infectious disease screening in the emergency room, helping to reduce community incidence of HIV and syphilis and their impact on our local population. Congratulations Dr. Yax! #UHProud Read more about this recognition in Crain’s Cleveland Business: https://lnkd.in/gUEVsU4f #healthcareleader #crainsnotable #populationhealth #collaboration #infectiousdisease #globalhealth