Shoulder Pain and Conditions
Dr. Brion Moran
June 5
6 – 7 p.m.
The Centennial Barn
110 Compton Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239

Knee Replacement
Dr. John Gallagher
June 7
6 – 7 p.m.
Mercy Health – Western Hills HealthPlex
3131 Queen City Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45238

Spine/Back Pain
Dr. John Jacquemin & Dr. Larry Zeff
June 12
6 – 7 p.m.
The Centennial Barn
110 Compton Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239

Meet Dr. Jacquemin: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/kaCAu59CcAk” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Meet Dr. Zeff: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/4w7czBjfXps” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Knees Injuries and Recovery
Dr. Michael Chen
June 14
6 – 7 p.m.
Mercy Health – Western Hills HealthPlex
3131 Queen City Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45238

Meet Dr. Chen: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/4qVnuD_N72g” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hip Replacement
Dr. Francis Florez
June 19
6 – 7 p.m.
Mercy Health – Mt. Airy Hospital
2446 Kipling Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239

Meet Dr. Florez: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/cPEVWuKq6NQ” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hand and Wrist Conditions
Dr. Craig B. Willis
June 26
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Mercy Health – Mt. Airy Hospital
2446 Kipling Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239

Meet Dr. Willis: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/SCKJvZiO2nQ” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Foot and Ankle Conditions
Dr. Sameh Arebi
June 28
6 – 7 p.m.
Mercy Health – Western Hills HealthPlex
3131 Queen City Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45238

Meet Dr. Arebi: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/y646BEruOgU” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Sound Absorbent Ceilings and Flooring
In designing a true healing environment, sound is a top priority. Mercy Health – West Hospital will have ceiling and floor surface finishes that will absorb sounds and thus reduce the noise level.

Electronic Medical Record Access from Patient Rooms
Each room will have a secure Mercy Health computer for your nurse, doctor or other care giver to access your medical record in your room to expedite care. For example, if a patient is feeling nauseated, the nurse can check the record in the patient’s room – instead of going back to the nurses’ station – to determine if an order has been written for medicine.

New Call Light System
Thanks to new technology, the new patient call light system will send your message to a specific member of your care team. For example, if you need something for pain, you will press a specific button that will send your request to your nurse. If you would like water, a specific button will send that request to a Patient Care Assistant. You will also be able to control your room temperature from your call light.

Central Monitoring Station
Currently, many hospitals have one patient care unit for all patients with telemetry (heart) monitors – regardless of their diagnosis. Our new approach allows patients to be in units by diagnosis. For example, all cardiac patients, with or without telemetry, will be on the cardiac unit. All surgery patients, with or without telemetry, will be on the surgery unit. All medical patients, with or without telemetry, will be on the medical unit. A team of telemetry experts will be in one location monitoring all patients with telemetry, regardless of their location in the hospital

Awarix Tracking System
This technology provides the nursing team with a “global” picture of their patient unit. What looks like a large screen plasma television shows a layout of the unit and indicates patients who are in another department for a test, those who are to be discharged, which rooms need to be cleaned and more. This system improves communication among the members of the patient care team and expedites care and flow.

Other Conveniences
The hospital will have all private rooms, each with its own bathroom. The rooms will have more outlets so patients and visitors can bring their electronic equipment and chargers. They will also have couches that fold out to become a twin bed if a family member wants to stay overnight. The entire hospital will have free wireless internet access/WiFi.

Dear Friends,

At Mercy Health, we believe that everyone deserves quality medical care and exceptional service. With that belief, comes the responsibility to ensure everyone who comes to our facilities is safe while in our care. This responsibility is the driving force behind the creation of our new Mercy Health – West Hospital. Simply stated, your safety is our priority.

To enhance safety in our patient rooms, Mercy Health – West Hospital will feature all private patient rooms with private bathrooms that have toilets placed along the headwall to minimize the distance patients’ must walk and trench drains for reduced slip and fall potential.

Our patient units will feature the Awarix Tracking System providing the nursing team with a “global” picture of their unit and patients; charting alcoves and view windows in the corridors for optimal visibility; and hand washing stations will be located at the entrance to every patient room.

The building will have an Access Control Security System with security cameras; Infant Protection/Wandering Patient Systems; and an underground snow-melt system to reduce potential for falls at the main entrance, Emergency Department entrance, helipad, staff entrance and patient discharge bridge.

Our care delivery will be enhanced with our new call system that is integrated with the telephone system to provide instant notification to staff when a patient is requesting assistance. Electronic medical records data drops throughout the entire facility provide connectivity to the hospital’s patient electronic records system, which helps to expedites patient care and treatment.

These are just a few of the design elements and systems that will be in place when we open our doors in October 2013. We consider it an honor and a privilege to care for you and your loved ones and we consider it a pleasure to serve you.

Michael R. Stephens
Market Leader and President
Mercy Health – West Market

“I was fortunate to have had an opportunity to spend a quarter as a co-op with Champlin while I was in college,” explained Kristie. “I liked the size of the firm, the company’s diverse portfolio, and the people were awesome. They provided me with the chance to develop my design and leadership skills, and the opportunity to work with various teams.”

Kristie has worked on a variety of high-profile projects for local and regional healthcare organizations, churches, libraries, universities and corporate clients. She enjoys healthcare projects most because she feels an added value knowing that the facility will be used to care for patients. Kristie is certified by the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers.

“I have been involved with teams on Mercy Health projects since 1999,” said Kristie. “I was part of the teams that worked on the Heart Hospital at Mercy Health – Fairfield Hospital and the Emergency Department renovation at Mercy Health – Clermont Hospital.

“Another reason I enjoy hospital projects, is the endless challenges and opportunities they bring. There are so many codes and regulations that must be followed. This creates a unique situation – one that I enjoy because it personally challenges me to approach each project with a fresh mindset.”

Mercy Health – West Hospital is unique thanks in part to Champlin’s design partner AECOM based in Minneapolis. AECOM developed a new concept in design, interiors and exteriors, and Champlin is the local design firm that is bringing those concepts to life at Mercy Health – West Hospital. For example, Mercy Health – West Hospital will be filled with open spaces and natural light; European oak instead of the traditional cherry; natural stone elements and horizontal wood grains.

“Today is the first time I’ve been to the construction site in a while and it’s everything I thought it would be and so much more! It’s truly going to be spectacular when finished, and I feel so honored to be part of the team that brought Mercy Health’s vision to life,” she added.

Mercy Health – West Hospital Tour from Mercy Health on Vimeo.

“I enjoy creating outdoor spaces that are sustainable but also leave people feeling inspired,” explains Gary. “Mercy Health – West Hospital is a special project because from the very beginning of the project there was an interest in green space and areas for reflection and inspiration, and not many hospitals take this type of healing approach. Mercy Health wants to create a space that is not only clinically healing, but is interesting, artful and uplifting for its patients, visitors and employees to view.”

The experience begins at the entrance at North Bend Road. A low entry wall will be adorned with prairie landscape and prairie grasses. The driveway leads to a “roundabout” with prairie plants and grasses and a low berm between the roundabout and parking, providing a framed view of the hospital.

The hospital will boast a 2.5 acre green roof. When complete it will be the largest green roof in the state of Ohio. It will include native plants and prairie grass that becomes moving swirls with a breeze.

The hospital’s chapel will have a glass wall from which you can view a small green roof.  “When you face the window, it will look like a framed picture of nature blue sky, plants and a mix of flowers for year round blooms and colors; a place for introspect,” says Gary.

Mercy Health – West Hospital will include a small replica of the undoubtedly best known labyrinth of its type – the beautifully preserved pavement labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral (also called the Cathedral of Notre-Dame) in France, constructed during the second decade of the 13th century. Easily accessible from the main entrance, the space will include circular seating and a resting place for time to reflect and relax, and a path with sitting stones, grasses, small trees and creeping thyme to complement the prairie theme of the green roof and campus.

“It has been an incredible experience working with Gary and his team,” notes Mike Stephens, president and Market Leader, Mercy Health – West Hospital. “Together, we are basically creating an outdoor cathedral.”

“I hope that when Mercy Health – West Hospital is finished, it will serve as a beautiful inspiration to all who come here,” adds Gary. “Imagine if your legacy is creating spiritual, healing outdoor spaces that inspire others. As a landscape architect, I can think of nothing better.”

“Thousands of years ago, the idea of using sod on the roof of a building was very common because it provided insulation,” says Mic Johnson, design principal with AECOM.

Today, green roofs are shown to benefit our environment. While continuing to serve as building insulators, they also absorb rain water rather than run-off through storm sewers and ultimately reaching rivers and streams. , In addition, a green roof is less reflective than a traditional roof, helping reduce the “heat island effect,” where more densely built-up and populated areas are hotter than nearby rural areas, due in part to heat that is reflected back into the atmosphere by traditional roofs. Rain water is absorbed by the roots of plants and evaporated through their leaves, thereby cooling the air temperature.

“Green roofs are popular in both urban and suburban areas because they provide adjacent outdoor spaces that support indoor activities,” adds Mic. “In many cases, larger outdoor space in those settings has not been an option. Green roofs are becoming much more common and allow people to enjoy both the indoors and outdoors in a seamless experience.  This design strategy is also helping to lessen the effects of climate change.”

In terms of hospitals, green roofs are a natural addition to the facility’s healing environment.

“For our new hospital, we wanted to provide our patients with a serene, calming environment to help with their healing process,” says Michael Stephens, President and Market Leader, Mercy Health – West Market. “We designed the hospital with larger, more expansive windows to allow for more natural light. The design lent itself to views of various roof tops, so it seemed only natural to make those green roofs.”

Nearly two-thirds of the hospital’s roof footprint will be green roof and include an assortment of drought-resistant grasses, plants and flowers that are native to southwest Ohio. A gentle breeze through the grasses will create a swirl effect while the flowers offer bursts of colors and textures: bright oranges, yellows, lavenders in spring and summer; and muted yellows, burgundies and browns in the fall and winter.

“The green roofs of Mercy Health – West Hospital should almost look like an extension of Mt. Airy Forest,” adds Mic.

Patient, visitors, employees and physicians can enjoy this “extension” in several areas on the hospital campus. Just outside the cafeteria will be a terrace for outdoor dining with access to a garden area. The chapel and main entrance will provide access to a healing garden and labyrinth, ideal for reflection and meditation.

Mercy Health – West Hospital is scheduled to open in October 2013.

After graduating from Western Hills High School, Giles Galbraith started working for a small contractor thanks to a friend of the family.

“On my first job out of school, I was cleaning up the construction site the first day and pouring concrete the next day,” explains Giles. He enjoyed the work so much that he made construction his career.

After almost 30 years in construction, Giles is now a General Superintendent with Dugan & Meyers and a member of the project team building the new Mercy Health – West Hospital in Green Township. Giles joined Dugan & Meyers approximately 26 years ago.

“My job is to make sure Dugan & Meyers and all our sub contractors are on schedule, “ explains the Delhi, Covedale native. “This includes scheduling the concrete pours, concrete forms, shoring for the different floors, and making sure that the rebar is here on time and installed in the proper place.”

Giles extensive experience includes high-rise condominiums, stadiums, sewer plants, parking garages, and intake structures for the water works and schools. Mercy Health – West Hospital is Giles’ first hospital project.

“Each project is unique in its own way, but there are also some similarities. All projects require a lot of planning and scheduling before the field work begins. Attention to detail and having a team of great people to pull it all together makes a project successful,” explains Giles.

What makes a hospital project unique from other construction projects is the detailing of all the hospital based mechanicals that most people will never see. “For example, oxygen. It will be used every day in most rooms throughout the hospital, but no one will ever get to see how it all came together, and how it gets from point A to point B,” says Giles. “All of the various mechanical systems have to be coordinated and fit into small ceiling spaces, and for me, as this is my first hospital project, it is very different.”

For Giles, the most satisfying part of the job is when one day you walk onto an empty field and many months later walk away from a complete structure in place, knowing all of the hard work was contributed by so many – all of whom finished it safely.

“I have the highest respect for everyone on this team,” adds Giles, “and I want to make sure the entire team comes to work every day and goes home in the same manner – safe.”

Although Giles has enjoyed a lifelong career in construction, he does not always get to transfer that same enjoyment to his home remodeling projects due to the lack of time. “I always end up paying someone else to do the remodeling at home,” notes Giles.  “I like to help other people with their projects, but can’t quite find the time to complete my own.”

Dear Friends,

Each year, Earth Day – April 22 – marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

According to the Web site earthday.org, the idea for Earth Day came to Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing a massive oil spill. The result of his early efforts led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Today, with the construction of Mercy Health – West Hospital, a key focus of the site and landscape design is to create a sustainable environment that is promotes a sense of healing and inspiration to our patients, visitors, employees, physicians and the community. Key elements include:
• Green Roof with “Prairie Swirl” landscape
• Chapel Green Roof with inspirational view garden
• Therapy Terrace walking garden
• A Labyrinth Garden, Garden of Contemplation
• Gateway garden at the North Bend Road entry
• A garden at the “rotary” or roundabout near the hospital entrance
• Storm water detention areas with native wetlands plantings
• Slope areas with native meadow and prairie seeding
• Native plants throughout the grounds
• Site lighting with very low energy LED lights
• Green roof with solar powered LED bollard lights

When our new hospital opens in October 2013, we hope your experience will include a feeling of serenity and peace, and that the numerous places for inward reflection and meditation will help you and your loved one with your healing process.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Stephens
President and Market Leader
Mercy Health – West Region Hospitals