May 2015

A REPORT ON WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A HEALTHY COMMUNITYCY

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A HOSPITAL NETWORK AND ITS COMMUNITY ARE CONNECTED? FIND OUT AT CommunityMedical.org/about-us

Four Hospitals. One Community.Clovis Community Medical Center | Community Behavioral Health Center | Community Regional Medical Center | Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST LUNG DISEASE

87 days to 7 days The reduction in average waiting time to see a cancer specialist after an abnormal lung scan

Lung cancer is the #1 cause

of cancer death in California

100% increase in diagnosis of lung cancer at stages 1 or 2, when it is more curable

Gordon Carlson is in remission from his lung cancer after going through the Lung Nodule Clinic and having 53 chemo/radiation treatments expedited.

A special kind of teamwork is helping to keep those with chronic lung problems out of the hospital – including visits by clinicians to patients’ homes.

No small task in Fresno County, where chronic lung disease is prevalent, and where 1 in 5 people has asthma

Exacerbated by air pollution levels that are among the highest in the country, emergency departments at Commu-nity Medical Centers’ hospitals and elsewhere see dozens of people daily in respiratory distress.

Among the more than 400 patients helped so far by Community Regional Medical Center’s Chronic Lung Disease Program, emergency department visits were reduced 79% and hospitalizations

were reduced 65%, saving an estimated $1.17 million a year on hospital care. An estimated $35 million is spent in Fresno County annually on hospital costs for those with asthma, according to the Central California Asthma Collaborative.

During home visits, caregivers test pulmonary function, check for proper inhaler and medication use and assess psychosocial needs. “We also test the ambient air in their homes to look for asthma triggers,” such as pets, mold in a swamp cooler, or proximity to highways and dusty farm � elds, said Dr. Vipul Jain, associate professor at UCSF and medical director for the program. “It makes patients feel special that we came to their home.”

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS CommunityMedical.org/about-us

Nearly 20 asthma sufferers a day end up in Fresno County ERs

Nurse Practitioner Richard Allison helps patient Neng Vue learn how to operate his oxygen canister.

Lung cancer is the third most common cause of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in California. About 12,600 Californians die of lung cancer each year, and about 2,100 new cases are diagnosed annually. � e survival rate for those with a late stage, lung-cancer diagnosis is less than 2% over � ve years. When detected early, the prognosis is better.

Community’s Lung Nodule Clinic has been able to shorten the time between a patient’s initial referral and consultation with lung experts from nearly three months to seven days. Now 61.5% of patients are diagnosed at early stages of their lung cancers, compared with 42% when the program started.

“Historically, patients in the San Joaquin Valley are diagnosed with lung cancer at a later stage and have worse outcomes,” said Dr. Michael W. Peterson, a pulmonologist practicing at Community Regional Medical Center and vice-chair of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Fresno medical education program. “We started the weekly multidisciplinary lung nodule clinic in 2009 to expedite the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in this population.”

Gordon Carlson is now in remission from lung cancer a er 18 chemo treatments and 35 radiation treatments, including Cyberknife. “Before the lung nodule program, getting treatment was like a tra c jam,” he said. “I’m a NASCAR fan so being in the program is like being on a super speedway. � e treatment is so organized and coordinated.”

ADVANCING CLINICAL QUALITY CommunityMedical.org/about-us

SPEEDIER DISCOVERY SPURS BETTER OUTCOMES WITH LUNG CANCER

GETTING CHARGED UP ABOUT CLEANER AIRThe San Joaquin Valley air basin historically has been among the most polluted in the nation with an average of 153 unhealthy ozone days a year in the late 1990s through 2005. While the air has become much cleaner with fewer particulates and lower ozone levels the last decade, the Valley still has pockets of intense pollution.

Community Medical Centers is doing its part to improve the Valley’s air quality by installing 12 free, electric-car charging stations for employees and doctors at three of its hospitals.

When polled, many Community employees said they either owned all-electric cars or would seriously consider buying one if they had a place at work to recharge it. Community employees formed a green team several years ago and have worked to improve workplace recycling habits, installed more bike racks, hosted bike-to-work events and encouraged carpooling through the intranet.

“This is just another way our employees and doctors are living our mission of improving the health of our greater community,” said Wanda Holderman, CEO of Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital and leader of Community’s Sustainability Team.

STEWARDING OUR RESOURCES CommunityMedical.org/about-us

87 days to 7 days timean abnormal lung scan

Lung cancer SINCE THE WEEKLY LUNG

NODULE CLINIC WAS

ESTABLISHED:

Less ozone and particulate pollution from electric cars than gas-powered cars

[Takes into account the emissions from

electricity plants used to charge electric cars]

Less ozone and particulate

electricity plants used to charge electric cars]

Up to

60%Fewer respiratory-related ER visits among

patients having home visits as part of the Chronic Lung

Disease Program

ER visitsER visitspatients having

Disease Program

79%

Reduction in hospitalizations

at Community Regional among Chronic Lung Disease

Program patients

hospitalizations at Community

Program patients

hospitalizations at Community

Program patients

65%

Kevin Barcellos, RN, of Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital uses charging station in the hospital parking lot.

ASTHMA CARE AT HOME CUTS HOSPITAL VISITS