• The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium celebrated the arrival of four Caribbean flamingo chicks, using the moment to highlight both animal care and new life.
• OhioHealth’s Fourth Trimester Clinic joined the celebration because of a meaningful connection to flamingos: the clinic gives small pink flamingos to new moms as a symbol of support and “getting their pink back.”
• The flamingo metaphor reflects the postpartum experience - just as flamingos lose some of their pink while caring for their young, moms can feel depleted while adjusting to life with a newborn.
• The Fourth Trimester Clinic helps new moms navigate postpartum challenges, including breastfeeding support, education and emotional reassurance.

Last month, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium celebrated its newest additions: Caribbean flamingo chicks.

“We have four Caribbean Flamingo chicks, 3 boys and 1 girl, and they’re 39 days and 38 days old," said Mallory Seibold, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium zookeeper. "So, we’re doing a fun celebration for them, bringing them out with our flock.”

Also joining the celebration was the OhioHealth Fourth Trimester Clinic team at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital Women’s Health Outpatient Center.

As part of the celebration, OhioHealth received 30 specialty Flamingo ADOPT packages for babies born at Dublin Methodist that day, giving families a unique keepsake tied to the zoo’s newest arrivals.

“It was wonderful to get to go to the Columbus Zoo and celebrate the baby shower for the pink flamingos," said Eleanor Byrum, a nurse practitioner at the OhioHealth Fourth Trimester Clinic. "It is just really cool to get to see people in different fields kind of focused on the same things, helping moms get through that early transition with their babies.”

The connection felt especially meaningful because the Clinic gives pink flamingos to new moms as a symbol of support during those early days.

“Here at the Fourth Trimester Clinic, I give out these small pink Flamingos as a reminder to moms that they will get their pink back,” said Byrum.

The phrase “get your pink back” was popularized by social media influencer Lindsey Gurk, and it quickly resonated with Byrum on a personal level.

“When Flamingos take care of their offspring, they literally give their all to their chicks," said Seibold. “They create something called crop milk. It is the literal pink coloration from their feathers because it has all those nutrients, all those carotenoids, algae, and anything they eat, they will bring it into their body and bring it up for their children. So, their feathers become pale during that time because they’re feeding their young all that crop milk.”
Byrum said the clinic’s flamingo tradition was inspired by social media influencer Lindsey Gurk and the movement of moms “getting their pink back.”

“I started looking around for a small memento that I can give out to families to represent, ‘I see you. I see what you’re doing with your baby, I see how much love you’re pouring into them,'" said Byrum.

“I was working in the women's & reproductive health service line at OhioHealth as a business operations manager when the Fourth Trimester Clinic was launched and began seeing patients,” Lucy Getz, OhioHealth patient, said. “At the time, I saw firsthand the vision behind the clinic and the important role it could play for new mothers. I then had the opportunity to experience that support personally as a patient after having my son last August.”

Getz initially visited the clinic for a prenatal appointment, then returned often in the first several weeks after her son was born for breastfeeding support and reassurance.

“During a season that can feel overwhelming and uncertain, every person I encountered made me feel supported, encouraged, and cared for,” Getz said. “Whether it was my lactation nurse, Amy, Rona the MPT, or the clinicians Dr. Tucker or Eleanor, I always felt like I had a trusted place to turn for guidance and the clinic provided not only expert care, but also reassurance and confidence I needed as a new mom.”

Getz keeps the flamingo on her desk as a reminder that motherhood is a journey, and every stage, even the difficult ones, is temporary. “It reminds me to give myself grace, to appreciate how far I've come, and to be grateful for the support system I had that helped me navigate that fresh season of motherhood.”

Danielle Stinnett first turned to the Clinic in 2024 for help with breastfeeding challenges after her first daughter was born.

“I was having some difficulties postpartum with her breastfeeding, latching multiple areas actually," said Stinnett. “It was a lot of education, even though I do work in the medical field, this is not my area of specialty, so they provided me information to help me get to the breastfeeding journey I was looking for with my first daughter who was unfortunately, tongue-tied," said Stinnett.

Stinnett’s oldest daughter is now 21 months old, and her youngest is three weeks old. When her second daughter was born, she returned to the Clinic for support.

“It just made me feel like I was among other people who are feeling very similar things as a lot of things change postpartum, and that it allowed me to realize the fact that I was not alone that there are other people there and are helping you along your journey," said Stinnett.

For Stinnett, “getting her pink back” means holding onto the hope that hard moments can ease, and finding joy in motherhood along the way.

“To me it means figuring out your new self with your children," said Stinnett. "It just means that before my girls, it was just me and my husband. Now, it’s kind of figuring out what that means as me being a mother and then kind of roping that into who I am myself.”

“Getting to see someone start to feel that normalcy return and feeling like they’re getting their footing of motherhood, there’s no greater joy to see that," said Byrum. “We are doing this to help moms get through this and we’re here to be that restorative function for them to get them back to hopefully getting their pink back."

• OhioHealth is investing in Morrow County Hospital’s future. The Omnicell upgrade is part of a nearly $13 million, five-year commitment to improve technology, services and patient experience at the county’s only hospital.
• The new Omnicell cabinets help connect Morrow County Hospital with the broader OhioHealth system. Other OhioHealth sites can now see what medications are available at MCH, which improves coordination during shortages, overstock situations or urgent needs.
• The upgrade improves after-hours pharmacy support. Pharmacists at OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital can remotely verify orders, view inventory and help nurses locate medications more easily when MCH’s pharmacy is not staffed onsite.
• Medication safety and security are strengthened. The cabinets provide better tracking, controlled substance documentation, oversight and inventory control, helping reduce risk and support safer medication use.

While every new system takes some time to get used to, the latest upgrade at OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital will be a big help for nurses and doctors during a routine part of their jobs.

 “We’ve recently been on Pyxus machines, and we’re switching to Omnicell machines to align with the rest of the system,” said Holly Trainer RPh, pharmacy manager at Morrow County Hospital.

This next step in the hospital's integration means any OhioHealth hospital can see what's on hand at MCH.

This makes things a lot easier for pharmacists at different OhioHealth care sites supporting MCH's pharmacy in its' off hours. 

“When they're verifying orders, they can direct the nurses to which cabinet has it in stock because they’ll be able to see it now,” said Trainer. “They couldn’t see it when we were on a different system than they were.”

While Morrow County Hospital's pharmacy has had remote support from OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital since joining the system, those pharmacists can now access inventory and see what's available. 

Another advantage to the new Omnicell cabinets is enhanced security. 

The cabinets have stronger controlled substance documentation and oversight, making it easier to track any suspicious activity. 

This latest upgrade is just one of a long list since Morrow County Hospital joined OhioHealth in January of 2025.

In fact, the system has committed to spend nearly $13 million on Morrow County Hospital in its first five years as a full member hospital, and according to Hospital President Mike Hyek, that sends a strong message to the people in the community. 

“That speaks volumes to trying to bring the level of technology and services up to a standard that the community can be proud of,” said Hyek. “Morrow County Hospital serves the needs of patients in Morrow County and surrounding counties and it’s exclusively the only hospital in the county. It’s really important to OhioHealth that if we’re going to be present in the county, we deliver the best patient experience that we can, and part of that is the capital investment that we make into the facility.”

Key Takeaways:

• Peter Sandwall, PhD, was named an AAPM Fellow — one of the highest honors from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
• The recognition highlights nearly two decades of impact in medical physics, including radiation oncology, clinical service, education, research and global health work.
• Sandwall plays a critical safety role at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, helping ensure radiation therapy equipment works accurately and treatment is delivered precisely while minimizing risk to patients and associates.
• The honor reinforces OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s local expertise, with hospital leadership emphasizing that patients in Richland County and surrounding communities have access to world-class care close to home.

OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital medical physicist Peter Sandwall, PhD, has been named a Fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), one of the organization’s highest honors. The national fellowship designation recognizes Sandwall’s outstanding contributions to medical physics through radiation oncology clinical service, education, research and global health work.

The AAPM Fellow designation is a peer-reviewed honor awarded to members who demonstrate exceptional achievement across multiple areas of the medical physics profession. Sandwall, the sole medical physicist at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, earned the recognition for contributions spanning nearly two decades, including clinical excellence, global cancer care initiatives and extensive educational programs for healthcare professionals.

In his role at Mansfield Hospital, where he has served for nine years, Dr. Sandwall helps ensure radiation therapy equipment operates safely and accurately. He works closely with physicians and clinical teams to direct radiation treatment precisely to its intended target, minimize toxicity and protect both patients and associates.

Dr. Sandwall earned his bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, and his master's degree and PhD from the University of Cincinnati.

Beyond his clinical work in Mansfield, Dr. Sandwall has dedicated himself to medical physics education and improving access to cancer care. He teaches physics at North Central State College and has conducted extensive online training for physicists, physicians and technologists around the world with the nonprofit Rayos Contra Cancer. He serves as a trustee of the nonprofit Radiating Hope and has supported cancer treatment centers in Honduras and other Latin American countries for the past 15 years. His contributions include training clinical associates on radiation planning systems and helping transfer radiation therapy equipment to underserved regions.

“Peter’s recognition as an AAPM Fellow is a tremendous honor, and it reflects exactly the kind of dedicated, mission-driven care we strive to provide every day at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital,” said Curt Gingrich, MD, president of OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital and OhioHealth Shelby Hospital. “This designation affirms what our patients and associates already know: they are in the hands of world-class experts who genuinely care about the people of Richland County and surrounding communities.”

A Mansfield resident, Dr. Sandwall lives just a mile from OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital and remains deeply committed to the community he serves. “Global health and rural medicine are about making sure everyone has access to care,” he said. “Patients should know there is a whole team of competent professionals supporting them, and we’re committed to providing the best care.”

According to Lifeline of Ohio, Mansfield Hospital cared for and supported four organ donors, ten tissue donors, and their families last year. As a result of those selfless donors, eight lives were saved and many more were healed.

Also in 2025, Mansfield Hospital cared for 46 placenta donors, helping Lifeline of Ohio reach the milestone of 3,000 placentas donated through its program.

“It’s been an incredible Donate Life Month, and we are extremely grateful to our hospital partners for holding meaningful events that honor donors, support their families and bring awareness to organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Andrew Mullins, CEO of Lifeline of Ohio.

Mansfield Hospital Nurse Allison Reidenbach also spoke at the ceremony, sharing her personal connection to organ donation. Her husband gave a living donor transplant to her brother. She also donated her placenta after giving birth to twin girls in 2023.

The event concluded with a prayer, a moment of silence and the raising of the Donate Life flag.

To learn more about Lifeline of Ohio, click here.

An OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital heart surgeon will be recognized as an honorary professor at the historical university he received his degree. Jose Norberto, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Mansfield Hospital, will receive the distinction at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, UASD, next month. The honor recognizes his contributions to cardiothoracic and oncological surgery, as well as his accomplishment of becoming the first Dominican to perform a heart transplant.

The title of “honorary professor” is a huge accomplishment in itself, but this one is extra special for Dr. Norberto. His parents, brother, and uncles graduated from the same university. “For somebody who has such a close tie to the university, this is very special,” said Dr. Norberto.

While Dr. Norberto has deep personal ties to UASD, its significance goes further. Both his mother and father grew up extremely poor in the Dominican Republic. He recalled stories of his father heading to school for the day with just one piece of bread and a coffee, knowing that would be his only meal of the day. Against all odds, he found a way to graduate and become a dentist, becoming the first man in his family to earn a university degree. His mother also graduated from the university and later became a history professor at the college.

“I came to this world in a different environment than they grew up,” said Dr. Norberto. “I was medium class. They were poor. I felt if they were able to go to college and get a degree, I had no excuse but to achieve that as well. I was very, very moved by what they went through compared to how much easier I had it.”

After graduating from UASD magna cum laude, Dr. Norberto came to the United States in 1990 to complete his cardiac surgery training at the Ohio State University. During that time, he became the first Dominican to perform a heart transplant. He then led the open-heart surgery program at Fairfield Medical Center for 17 years before joining OhioHealth as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

While Dr. Norberto left the Dominican Republic decades ago, he’s found several opportunities to go back. Most notably, to give back to the community that gave him the foundation of his work ethic and knowledge. Dr. Norberto went on several mission trips to Santo Domingo to operate on patients in need of care, free of charge. It was his way of paying forward the good fortune he felt he was given at UASD, especially knowing so many people in his hometown were still struggling.

Dr. Norberto will be honored at UASD on May 14. He looks forward to his wife and brothers joining him for the ceremony. And while his parents are now deceased, he knows they’ll be watching over him, beaming with pride.

It’s not often you meet someone who’s gone on a mission trip to help others in a foreign country. But Brian Zimmerman, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, is a bit of an expert in this field. He just returned from his seventh mission trip to South America last month.

“These people are so underserved and so appreciative,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “They need medical care and I am so overjoyed to be able to help and provide it for free.”

Dr. Zimmerman’s most recent trip was to three communities in Brazil along the Amazon River- Alegro Vamos, Livra Mentos, and Boa Esporanza. He traveled with a larger group of medical professionals, including OhioHealth associates Ariah Avila, a surgery tech at Mansfield Hospital, and Kelly Keller, CNP, an advanced practitioner at Mansfield Hospital. In just over a week, Dr. Zimmerman and his team treated more than 340 patients.

“We’d start at about 8 AM, and we’d go until about 6 PM seeing patients,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “Generally, there was a big line of people waiting at 8 AM because frankly, they wanted to be taken care of and not miss their opportunity. People would come out of the woodwork for eight to ten hours.”

Dr. Zimmerman’s team used a medical boat for this trip, using it to travel to different communities, as well as for eating and sleeping. While it may sound like a challenge, Dr. Zimmerman is no stranger to using a boat as both living quarters and a medical facility. In fact, this was his fourth trip doing so. This time, the Sao Domingos do Capim government provided a medical boat to his team for free in exchange for their medical service.

A mission of compassion

Many of the patients Dr. Zimmerman saw were migrant workers who worked in fields and farms. Some of the conditions he treated included arthritis, infections, cists, fungal and bacterial infections, and wounds. According to Dr. Zimmerman, no matter the ailment, every patient expressed their gratitude.

“Every patient who came in there would say, ‘Obrigada or Obrigado,’ which means thank you. They’d hug me or our staff. They're very, very appreciative.”

Dr. Zimmerman has been traveling to South America to treat people in need for over a decade. The fulfillment of helping these communities has been enough to keep him coming back, but it’s also shaped how he cares for patients at OhioHealth.

“Mansfield Hospital has a wound care clinic,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “We have a lot of indigent patients who come in there, who don’t have much for resources or supplies. We also have a lot of people in the hospital who are frankly the same who we care for. I’ve really developed a heart for them. I handle and love on these patients a lot of the same way.”

An open heart

Dr. Zimmerman says he owes his great experience of this most recent trip to a group of people, including OhioHealth associates Avila and Keller, former OhioHealth associate Sonya Spayde, his cousin, Pastor Scott Toth and his wife Michelle Toth, founders of Hope Ministries in Brazil, Pastor Chris Standridge and his wife Becky Standridge of Crossroads Church in Ontario, his son, Samuel Zimmerman, and Tim Iten DDS, a pediatric dentist in Mansfield.

Dr. Zimmerman has no plans to return to South America for an eighth mission trip at the moment, but given his passion for giving back and strong faith, it seems likely.

“My heart is always open,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “If the good Lord creates the opportunity and the hospital and resources come, then yes, I would love to go back.”

At OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital, you can expect to be seen by a host of medical professionals, sometimes even two doctors, but one of the faces you'll see appears on a screen. 

It's part of a new partnership with MedOne Healthcare Partners, a hospitalist group that provides 24-7 physician support through telehealth capabilities.

How it works:

When a patient arrives at the hospital, they'll be seen by a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant employed by MedOne, as well as OhioHealth Emergency Department staff. 

Then, that advanced practice provider will call up a MedOne physician on a laptop who can evaluate the patient remotely. 

“We’re not taking away services by doing this," said Joey Saliba MD, Medical Director of the MedOne Hospitalist Program at Morrow County Hospital. "When we set up a telehealth call or telehealth visit, I’m talking directly to the ER physician, and that collaboration has been excellent. So, there’s the boots on the ground, there’s the telehealth physician remotely, and there’s the collaboration with the ER.”

The switch to MedOne started back in December, and according to Dr. Saliba, it's brought several benefits to patients.

Experienced Providers

One of the biggest benefits has been the experience these physicians and advanced practice providers have coming from larger hospitals. 

“We bring that experience of having worked in that quaternary or tertiary care center, including OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, so that we’ve also been on the receiving end of a critical access hospital like Morrow County,” said Dr. Saliba. “A number of our advanced care providers have ICU experience as well.”

That experience helps keep more people at Morrow County Hospital, so patients don't have to leave their community for care at a larger hospital.

“Having a group that’s very experienced and well connected and is also based at a tertiary care hospital really connects us in a better way,” said Grant Galbraith MD, associate director of medical affairs at Morrow County Hospital. "So, patients that may have been transferred because of need for testing, which would have been the perception of the person admitting the patient, those people may be able to stay and receive telehealth services directed by experts who are in the tertiary care centers.”

24-7 Physician Support

Another change that comes with the partnership with MedOne is 24-7 physician support.

That support is a key resource as health providers decide the next steps in a patient's care. 

“It’s as simple as, if a patient has a concern or a nurse has a concern, you page the physician on call, and if they need to, they can hop on the screen and actually evaluate the patient and talk with them," said Alex Kaple DO, medical director of the Emergency Department at Morrow County Hospital.

Introducing telehealth into the Morrow County community is certainly a big adjustment, but it's clear the teams at Morrow County Hospital and MedOne are confident patient care is in the best hands. 

“How's that smelling?” asked Greg Brandes, manager of Nutrition Services at Mansfield Hospital, during his live cooking demonstration. 

Many in the audience were not only there for the food and cooking demonstration, but a chance to reclaim their health after going through one of the toughest battles of their lives: cancer. 

“We really wanted to pursue classes for cancer survivorship because we know the amount of people surviving cancer is growing and that’s a great thing and we want to celebrate that,” said Sarah Rivenburgh, oncology dietitian at Mansfield Hospital. “But we also know even if you’re a cancer survivor, your risk of cancer recurrence is still there. So, if we can focus on getting people to learn how to eat healthy foods and decrease their risk of cancer recurrence, then we’re doing a good job.”

Every few months, Mansfield Hospital is offering a cancer survivorship nutrition series aimed at supporting people post-cancer treatment with nutrition education. 

While the series is tailored for cancer survivors, anyone is welcome, especially caregivers or support partners.

"I will say that I feel like sometimes the cancer diagnosis is much harder on the support person because they’re watching with sadness their person go through this and trying to find things to help them, said Tammy Canfield, wife of a cancer survivor. 

For this first series event, attendees learned about protein and how to make smarter food decisions to support their long-term health.

“Your better choices of meat are going to be your poultry,” said Rivenburgh during the class. “Your chicken, your turkey, boneless, skinless preferred…”

Each series will focus on a specific food group, and ultimately, how to apply what you've learned in your own kitchen.

“We really want you to learn things that you’re going to be able to take home and use on a daily basis,” Rivenburgh told class attendees.

This was the first class of the nutrition series for 2026. There will be three more classes throughout the year:

• June 25- focusing on fruits and sweets
• September 17- focusing on vegetables
• November 19- focusing on whole grains

To register for an upcoming event, contact Elisa Bryant, business project manager of oncology services, at 847-712-1597.

Whether it's setting up a room for a patient, taking vital signs, or assisting a nurse, the Patient Support Assistant is always eager to help and brighten someone's day. 

“I think it’s one of the greatest things I’ve learned here is how to work one on one with somebody to make sure they’re feeling heard and what they need is met," said Christopherson. 

While Christopherson's off to a great start, she's got a lot more to learn. She's only 18 and still in high school!

Christopherson works part-time at Shelby Hospital as a PSA through a program between Pioneer Career and Technology Center and OhioHealth. OhioHealth's Work-Based Learning Program offers students hands-on experience and a paid position, while hopefully growing retention of healthcare workers. 

“It’s been a great program, especially for a community hospital,” said Nurse Manager Shannon Thrush. “When you’re in that rural area, recruiting can be a challenge, so you’re really starting that pipeline early. It’s also building relationships early with someone to where we can actually grow them into whatever career path they want, which we’re hoping Emily is in nursing.”

Thrush is one of many associates at Shelby Hospital who's fond of Christopherson, and so are the patients. 

In fact, one family was so impressed with her, they nominated her for the Bee Award- an honor recognizing support staff for going above and beyond.

“That’s one of the things we’re super proud of her about,” said Thrush. “She was nominated, it basically goes into a pool and it’s voted on who gets the award and who doesn’t. We’re just really proud of her.”

Christopherson is now the first high school student working at Shelby Hospital to achieve the Bee Award and just the second across the entire OhioHealth system. 

It's a huge accomplishment, but she has her mind set on something even greater. 

“I believe I’m going to be a nurse and in my heart I feel that I’m very much going to get there," said Christopherson.

If this award is any indication, Christopherson's on the right path.

If it's up to Thrush and the other nurses at Shelby Hospital, Christopherson will be able to return as an RN and serve at the very hospital that gave her her start.

CareConnect creates a single, unified record for each patient, improving communication between care teams, enhancing safety and making it easier for patients to manage their health. With the new system, patients will have access to MyChart, a secure, online tool that allows them to view appointments, test results, billing information and more.

As part of this initiative, Morrow County Hospital also went live on software platform Workday, as well as 50 third-party integrated applications. These upgrades include advanced resource planning solutions and robust integrations to streamline workflows and safeguard patient information.

"Our $6 million investment in CareConnect and other integrated applications reflects our commitment to innovation and patient-centered care,” said Morrow County Hospital President Mike Hyek. “By adopting this cutting-edge technology, we are not only enhancing safety and communication but also empowering our patients and their families to take an active role in their healthcare journey."

CareConnect also connects patients and providers across OhioHealth’s entire system, as well as to other hospitals across the country that use Epic. More than 325 million patients nationwide have an Epic record.

Through MyChart, patients can easily manage appointments, communicate with their providers, view test results, pay bills, and request medication refills - all from their computer or smartphone. Caregivers and family members, with consent, can also be granted access to a loved one’s MyChart account, improving support for patients who may need assistance managing their health.

Morrow County Hospital is the latest OhioHealth hospital to adopt CareConnect, helping the health system deliver a seamless patient experience across all its hospitals and outpatient locations.

OhioHealth MyChart is free, simple, secure and available online at mychart.ohiohealth.com or through the OhioHealth app.

At least 40, to give you an idea.

But this year was extra special. Not only did Albright turn 90, she also met the recipient of her usually anonymous gift.

“She just did not want anybody to know,” said her daughter Dayna Adamescu about her mother's gift tradition.

Ever since turning 50-years-old, Albright would commemorate her own birthday on Valentine's Day by donating a pink teddy bear and card to the first baby girl born on the holiday.

Albright herself was born at Mansfield Hospital in 1936.

As to why exactly she started this tradition, she can't pinpoint a specific reason. 

“I don't know,” said Albright. “It seemed like the thing to do. And it was fun. 
I enjoyed doing it.”

But one thing is for certain. She didn't want credit. And she certainly didn't want to interrupt a private family moment. 

“It just seems like I’m stepping into a family thing,” said Albright. “It’s their big day.”

But this year may be the last of this tradition.

After all, coordinating the shopping and surprise isn't exactly easy at 90-years-old.

So, her daughters Venus Breinich and Adamescu decided to reach out to Mansfield Hospital to see if she could meet the first baby girl born on the holiday.

And they're glad they did.

And while Albright's tradition may be over, the memories she's created will last generations and so will her legacy of kindness and giving. 

Albright would love to hear from families who've received her Valentine's Day gift in the past. You can send her a note at Primrose Retirement located at 1301 Millsboro Road in Mansfield, Ohio, with attention to Annette Albright. 

But it's easy to see this is a familiar setting for Bridget Kuykendall.

After all, she's already had six surgeries and 16 spinal taps due to a rare disorder that took control of her life more than 20 years ago. 

“We tried to figure out why I had these headaches,” said Kuykendall. “They called them migraines at the time.”

The headaches continued to get worse and become more often. Oddly enough, they always presented with stroke-like symptoms. 

Then, in 2013, Kuykendall suffered an actual stroke. 

She received her diagnosis shortly after: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, or IH.

“My brain thinks I have a tumor,” said Kuykendall. “But I don’t. So it’s creating all this excess spinal fluid.”

In layman's terms: IH is a disorder involving increased pressure in the skull and excess spinal fluid around the brain. 

This leads to extreme headaches, nausea, and vision deterioration. 

Kuykendall eventually had brain surgery to insert what's called a shunt into her brain compartment to drain that excess fluid. However, that particular procedure lead to severe complications.

She then found Dr. Bohdan Chopko, current lead neurosurgeon at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, through one of her support groups, and hasn't looked back since. 

“I recognized in him right away that he cares," said Kuykendall. "And he really just wants to help you. He’s compassionate. He wants to fix things for people.”

Dr. Chopko has performed multiple surgeries on Kuykendall since 2016, including relocating her shunt after it moved, replacing it, and reinserting it for better position. 

Since Dr. Chopko joined OhioHealth, Kuykendall travels more than 1,300 miles to see him. 

“I’ve told him, I will follow him to mars if he moves to mars,” said Kuykendall. “And he says, ‘Why would I move to Mars?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m just letting you know, that’s how far I’ll go to have you.’ I trust him so much.”

While Dr. Chopko recognizes Kuykendall's recommendation of him as one of the highest forms of compliments, he credits his whole team for creating a positive experience for her. 

“When you have patients coming to you because of word of mouth, that ‘s just such a wonderful feeling because I think all cylinders are firing so to speak when that’s happening,” said Dr. Chopko. “It means that the hospital experience was great, the surgeon experience was great, the nursing staff, the operating room staff, everybody played a role in that in making this something that a patient felt encouraged by. She could’ve gone anywhere in that 1,300 mile span for her care, but she chooses to come here.”

Kuykendall doesn't know how long her current shunt will last her, but she knows she'll travel back to Ohio when she needs it replaced to see Dr. Chopko.

This shift brings together primary care and same-day, immediate care in one convenient location, making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable. Patients will benefit from both scheduled and walk-in access for urgent, non-life-threatening needs, as well as ongoing health management through the primary care office.

Convenient Access and Lower Costs for the Community

The transition addresses key community needs by expanding access to walk-in care when it is needed most. The new location will offer extended hours to accommodate busy schedules:

• Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

"This new model is truly about providing the right care, at the right time, at the right place," said Mike Hyek, president of Morrow County Hospital. "It’s about providing access to that same compassionate, high-quality care at the most affordable price point.”

By moving urgent care services out of the hospital setting and into a physician practice environment, patients can expect reduced out-of-pocket costs compared to hospital-based urgent care visits. This shift ensures high-quality medical services remain accessible and affordable for the Mount Gilead community.

Continuity of Care with Familiar Faces

Patients can rest assured that they will continue to receive the same exceptional care they trust. The current urgent care providers and associates will relocate to the new site, joining the existing primary care team. This partnership allows for a smoother transition if you need both urgent and ongoing care, giving you and your family continuity and peace of mind.

"We’re excited about this new blended model of care offering," said Hyek. "We know as our community needs evolve, it’s important for us to continue to evaluate how we provide exceptional care for all."

New and existing patients can walk in for immediate care or schedule same-day appointments online. You can also call the OPG Primary and Walk-In Care Practice to make an appointment at 567-876-6360.

The current urgent care space within Morrow County Hospital will be repurposed for clinic space based on local needs, ensuring that hospital resources continue to serve the community effectively.

• OhioHealth will resume normal operations at all locations on Tuesday, January 27. 
   
• Elective surgeries and outpatient services at all OhioHealth locations will resume Tuesday, as scheduled. 
   
• Urgent Cares and OhioHealth physician offices will open and operate as usual Tuesday. 
   
• All OhioHealth WorkHealth, Associate Health and onsite clinics will open as scheduled on Tuesday. 
   
• Virtual urgent care visits and physician telehealth appointments can also be scheduled at ohiohealth.com/VirtualHealth. 
   
• If you had a surgery, procedure or appointment cancelled, call (614) 566-1111 to reschedule.

A key pillar in the Richland County cancer care space is taking a leave of absence to reconnect with her family. After 25 years of service, Srividya Viswanathan, MD, a medical oncologist at OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals, will travel to India for an extended period of time beginning February 1, 2026. Dr. Viswanathan says this visit home isn’t just a break- it’s a chance to reconnect with her roots and loved ones in a way that short trips never allowed.

Dr. Viswanathan has been a cornerstone of cancer care in Mansfield and the surrounding area for over a decade. She began practicing as an oncologist with MedCentral Health System in 2011, which later became part of the OhioHealth system. Her journey in medicine includes a residency at Queens Hospital Center in New York, affiliated with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and a fellowship in pain medicine and medical oncology at The Ohio State University.

While the date of her return hasn’t been set, she wants to remind her patients they remain her top priority. "My passion is caring for my patients and that will not change,” said Dr. Viswanathan. “This time away is a personal journey to reconnect with my family, but I want to assure you that I will be returning. I have complete confidence in the wonderful team here at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. You will be in the very best hands while I am gone, and I look forward to seeing you all again when I come back."

OhioHealth supports Dr. Viswanathan’s decision and is committed to ensuring a seamless continuation of care for all her patients during her absence. If you are a patient of Dr. Viswanathan and have questions about your future care, you can call Mansfield and Shelby Hospital’s Medical Oncology and Hematology office at 419-756-2003. 

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to protecting our environment,” said Cindy Jacobs, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification.”

ENERGY STAR® is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance. Hospitals that receive this certification are verified to perform in the top 25% of buildings nationwide, based on weather-normalized source energy use that takes into account occupancy, hours of operation, and other key metrics.

Mansfield Hospital’s sustainability efforts continue to grow. The hospital building earned an ENERGY STAR® score of 83 this year, two points higher than last year. This means Mansfield Hospital is now more energy efficient than 83% of similar properties nationwide. Some of the hospital’s energy efficiency efforts over the last year include utilizing outside air cooling when available, lowering gas consumption through a modernized boiler system, and frequent review of the heating, cooling, and air system.

Mansfield Hospital is one of two OhioHealth hospitals to achieve ENERGY STAR® certification. For more information about ENERGY STAR for Buildings and Plants, click here.

Over the past year, the hospital has seen a wave of investments designed to modernize the facility, expand clinical capabilities, and improve the patient experience from the moment they walk through the door.

Enhancing the Patient Experience

The first thing visitors might notice upon arriving is the physical transformation of the campus. New OhioHealth signage now proudly marks the building, symbolizing the deep integration of resources and expertise available to the community.

But the improvements go far beyond branding. A newly renovated patient walk-in entrance greets patients walking into the Emergency Department and Medical Specialty Center. Inside, furniture updates throughout the facility offer a more welcoming environment for patients and their families. In the Emergency Department—often the front line of community care—new patient beds have been installed, providing a more comfortable and effective experience for those in need.

Expanding Clinical Capabilities

Continuing to bring specialized care to Morrow County has been a top priority this year. For many patients, receiving advanced treatment used to mean driving long distances to larger metropolitan hospitals. That is changing.

Oncologist and hematologist Shakir Sarwar MD opened a cancer clinic at the hospital in July. This investment allows local patients to receive critical oncology services, such as bone marrow biopsies, right in their own community.

The introduction of a new hospitalist group has also brought a cutting-edge medical model to the bedside of patients admitted to the hospital. Through a partnership with MedOne, the hospital has implemented a telehealth medicine model. This technology connects local patients with specialized physicians instantly, ensuring geography is never a barrier to receiving top-tier medical advice and treatment plans.

Diagnostic capabilities are seeing a major boost, as well. The hospital has increased its MRI capacity, allowing for more appointments and faster diagnoses. Additionally, new partnerships have brought positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning technology to the facility, a vital tool for detecting and monitoring various conditions, including cancer.

Efficiency Behind the Scenes

While patient-facing improvements are easy to spot, some of the most critical investments happen behind the scenes. This year, the hospital modernized its supply chain inventory storage room. The overhaul improves the efficiency of moving general supplies throughout the hospital, reducing waste and delays. Similarly, the sterile processing supply room has been updated, streamlining the movement of surgical supplies and ensuring that the operating rooms operate with maximum safety and efficiency.

"The investments made in Morrow County Hospital over the past year highlight OhioHealth’s commitment to providing the hospital with the full strength of its resources and expertise,” said Morrow County Hospital President Mike Hyek. “While we’ve always delivered personalized, high-quality care, it’s inspiring to see how the support of a leading healthcare system enhances our ability to keep even more care close to home."

Looking to the Future

As impactful as this first year has been, the momentum isn't slowing down. The team at Morrow County Hospital is already preparing for the next major leap forward.

Coming this February is the "Go Live" of the EPIC electronic medical record system. This massive, $6 million undertaking, which has required months of preparation over the last year, will connect Morrow County Hospital seamlessly with the entire OhioHealth system. It means a patient’s medical history will be easily accessible to their entire care team, regardless of where they are treated within the network, enhancing safety and coordination of care.

"We’re thrilled to see the EPIC electronic system come to life, streamlining the way patients find and access healthcare,” said Hyek. “It’s just another way Morrow County Hospital will have a positive impact on our community. We look forward to the continued advancements on the horizon."

The cherished tradition supports the 40 to 50 children, ranging from infants to 18-year-olds, who are typically in foster care during Christmastime. Kirsten Osborn, executive assistant at Morrow County Hospital, has managed the relationship with Morrow County’s Family and Children Services for the last three years, organizing the effort to bring smiles to children's faces. That involves creating tags for each child labelled with their gift wish list and hanging them on a tree in the hospital. Associates then pick the tags to sponsor children, ensuring every child receives at least three presents to open. If there are any children whose tags don’t get pulled, Osborn goes shopping for them out of her own pocket to make sure no child gets left behind.

This year, the community's generosity was on full display, with over 350 gifts donated. The hospital even hosted a wrapping party to prepare the presents.

While this is joyful time for associates to give back, it also pulls on their heart strings when considering the basic needs of these children. Many gift requests are not for toys, but for essential items. “Some of these kids ask for a toothbrush, a new hairbrush, sheets for their bed,” explained Osborn. “They’re asking for things that we look at as necessities. Many of these kids have put their wants off to the side.”

Osborn delivered the gifts for the children’s Christmas party last week, but emphasized there’s still plenty of ways to give back this season. “There is an elderly community out there that still needs support just as much as these children," she said. Simple items like socks and blankets can make a significant difference and can be dropped off at Job and Family Services anytime.

OhioHealth will implement weapons free screening, including the use of metal detectors and purse and bag checks, at 26 care sites. The new scanning technology is part of OhioHealth’s initiative to make all facilities a weapons-free environment. These safety changes come at a time when violence is increasing in the health care industry. According to the US Bureau of statistics, healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than other industries.

“The safety of our patients, visitors, and associates is of utmost importance to us at OhioHealth,” said Vice President of Security and Protective Services Todd Wickerham. “While we have always prohibited weapons from entering our care sites, this is an active measure to make sure that’s the case.”

The screening process takes only a few moments and does not delay patient care.  By taking this next step, OhioHealth is working to prevent and reduce workplace violence during an increasingly violent time.

The American Heart Association reports hundreds of people die each year during or immediately after shoveling snow. According to OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital Cardiologist Michael Jolly MD, several factors contribute to this risk.

“Snow shoveling is a deceptively strenuous activity that can place significant stress on the heart, particularly in individuals with underlying cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, or a history of smoking,” said Dr. Jolly. “The combination of cold temperatures, sudden exertion, and the use of upper body muscles increases heart rate and blood pressure, which can trigger dangerous events like heart attacks or arrhythmias.”

Another factor that increases the risk is most people don’t warm up before they begin shoveling. Many head out first thing in the morning, which places additional stress on the heart.

 “This risk is especially pronounced in people who are generally sedentary throughout the year and then abruptly engage in vigorous activity during snow removal,” said Dr. Jolly. “Such sudden exertion can unmask previously silent coronary artery disease, leading to chest pain, shortness of breath, or even acute myocardial infarction. These episodes often result in emergency care and further cardiac testing.”

If you fall into an at-risk category, be mindful of the dangers and take precautions. For those who may be vulnerable, consider hiring help for snow removal. If that is not an option, using a snow blower or clearing snow in shorter, more frequent intervals may lessen the physical demand.

Pay close attention to your body's signals. If you experience any warning signs of a heart attack while shoveling—such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, or sweating - stop the activity immediately. If your symptoms do not subside quickly, call 911. We all feel the urge to clear our driveways on snowy days so we can get to work or school, but it’s important to do so safely.

The participants are certainty having fun and getting in a workout, but they're not just there for the sport. 

“We heard about an Adaptive Pickleball Programming that was happening in Columbus and it really sparked our interest because we had pickleball and we had neuro programming, but we never put them together,” said Emily Freeman, exercise physiologist at the Ontario Health and Fitness Center.

Together, the neurological program and sport created Adaptive Pickleball, a pickleball class for people with neurological issues. 

The rules of the sport are the same, but the idea is to create a more comfortable, relaxed atmosphere for people like Rocky Martin.

“She noticed that I was slurring my words a little bit, which I didn’t notice that, and she saw I was dragging this right foot, and I didn’t notice that,” said Rocky, a stroke survivor.

Rocky suffered from not one, but two strokes within two days in 2016. 

Their impact was life changing. 

“I was numb,” said Rocky. “I couldn’t talk, couldn’t eat. Everything had to be thickened for me to get it down.”

Nine years later, after intense rehabilitation, Rocky is back to speaking, eating, and doing many of things he used to do.

His wife, Connie, is a big reason why.

“His right side is where the stroke took the hard effect,” said Connie Martin, Rocky's wife.

A former nurse, Connie's been instrumental in pushing Rocky to keep fighting to gain more of his strength and mobility back.

“He’s shown he’s not one of the statistics,” said Connie.

That drive and determination are more reasons Rocky and Connie show up for Adaptive Pickleball every week.

While the first session of Adaptive Pickleball at the Ontario Health and Fitness Center is now over, exercise physiologists plan to offer another session in February. 

The fitness center also offers other Neurology Wellness Programs, incorporating cardio, strength training, flexibility and balance, and a Parkingson's Wellness Program. 

Healthy and secure in her mom's arms, the nine-month-old smiles from ear to ear.

But it was a long road to get here, starting with her early arrival at just 27-weeks gestation.  

“I was diagnosed at 25 weeks gestation with Preeclampsia with severe features,” said Casey Britton, mother of Aurora. “We tried all of the things to keep her inside, knowing that every week was a better outcome for her. But at 27 weeks and four days, she decided that enough was enough. When she was born, she let this little tiny squawk out, just one little squawk, and at that point I knew that she was going to fight and she was going to be ok.”

Aurora was born in Akron at two pounds, ten pounces, and was immediately taken to the NICU.

There, she fought for her life, while Casey recovered from her emergency surgery.

“Aurora, at that time, was on a ventilator, so it was just very touch and go,” said Casey. “So it was hard to be away from her.”

Once Casey could visit her baby, she had to juggle her time with her other children at home in Mansfield, including a 15-year-old, 11-year-old, and two-year-old foster child.

Plus, with it being over an hour drive to see Aurora, Casey and her husband were stretched thin. 

“I had to go back to work when she was only five weeks old,” said Casey. “And then it made it even harder, because she was so far away, and we were all here, and that’s when I started looking into getting her closer to home because that’s what we all needed.”

Casey knew about OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital's Special Care Nursery, able to take in babies 32 weeks gestation and up, and advocated to get Aurora moved there. 

On April first, after Aurora had reached two months, she was transferred to Mansfield. 

“She had an uncomplicated stay,” said Martin Hanawalt MD, medical director of the Pediatric Hospitalist Program at Mansfield Hospital.

According to Dr. Hanawalt, the Special Care Nursery cares for babies like Aurora all the time.

The program, made possible through a partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital, is now celebrating ten years at Mansfield Hospital, providing four full-time physicians, as well as one part-time, all board certified in Pediatrics. 

And according to Casey, that expert care, available 24-7, made all the difference for Aurora.

“She started thriving within days of being here,” said Casey. “Starting to eat more, needing less oxygen, needing less feeding tube. It was just amazing to see.”

With consistent care, and having mom and dad around every day, Aurora was reaching her milestones and was able to go home after just ten days. 

The happy girl is now growing and flourishing at home, something that once seemed so far away in her early days. Casey thanks Mansfield's Pediatric Hospitalist Program for helping to make it happen.

As for other new moms in Richland County and the surrounding area, she's got a message: “They need to know that they don’t have to drive to Columbus to get this,” said Casey. “They can have Columbus care right here in Mansfield.”

The ‘Hope Chest’ is a dedicated pantry for oncology patients, filled with basic items like food, personal care products, and clothing. 

“This pantry is more than a room with shelves and supplies,” said Business Project Manager for Oncology Services at Mansfield Hospital and OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, Elisa Bryant. “It's a symbol of compassion, dignity, and hope for our oncology patients who are facing not only the challenges of cancer, but also the heavy burden of financial toxicity that cancer treatment can bring.” 

Bryant says the idea for the pantry started with long time oncology social worker Michele Schaefer. She noticed the needs of patients went far beyond just medicine, so she started filling a cardboard box underneath her desk with the basics. That simple act of kindness turned into the ‘Hope Chest’. 

“This is just another way that we at OhioHealth can make sure that we're addressing all of the needs of the patient,” said Bryant. 

Within the Hope Chest, patients can find pick cards, which lists common symptoms while undergoing cancer treatment, and items that may provide relief. 

Other pricier items, like mouthwash specifically for dry mouth, are available for the more unique side effects. There are plenty of products for patients in need, but the message is deeper. 

“This is not just about products, it's about restoring stability and hope during moments when patients often feel the most vulnerable,” said Bryant. 

With the help of the OhioHealth Foundation and donations from the community, OhioHealth looks forward to keeping the hope chest available for years to come. 

If you'd like to donate to the Hope Chest, the pantry is accepting new clothing, non-perishable food items, and personal care products. According to Bryant, you can drop off donations at the Radiation Oncology building across from Mansfield Hospital. You can also make a monetary donation by making a check out to the OhioHealth Foundation, noting “Hope Chest” in the memo. Bryant says you can also reach out to her directly at Elisa.Bryant@OhioHealth.com. 

Services provided by OhioHealth include:

-Primary care for adults

-Obstetrics and gynecology

-Advanced imaging capabilities in a new mammography unit

“This project represents OhioHealth’s commitment to growing families in the north central region,” said Curt Gingrich MD, president of OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “This expanded relationship between OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ontario will offer more in-depth care for the whole family to meet evolving health care needs closer to where they live and work.”

Services provided by Nationwide Children’s include:

-Pediatric primary care

-Pediatric specialty clinics (Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Cardiology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology, Nephrology, Urology)

-Pediatric clinical therapies (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy)

-Pediatric radiology

-Pediatric laboratory capabilities

“Nationwide Children’s currently offers primary care and outpatient services in the region in addition to our existing partnership with OhioHealth Mansfield hospital where we provide 24/7 on-site care to neonatal and pediatric patients,” said Libbey Hoang, vice president of planning and business development at Nationwide Children’s. “This relocation allows us to consolidate and expand our outpatient services to patients and families in Mansfield and Ontario to meet them where they are.”

As part of this investment project, OhioHealth also plans to renovate its existing facility in Ontario and add services. The Ontario Health and Fitness Center currently offers urgent care, WorkHealth, a public fitness center, therapy services, imaging, as well as OhioHealth Physician Group Primary Care services.  OhioHealth will add a specialty hub including a number of specialists to support the community’s unique needs.

“This reinvestment in a 26-year-old facility will improve the patient experience and support future growth in Ontario,” said Dr. Gingrich. “As more care moves to outpatient settings, these added services will help keep care close to home for the community we’ve been proud to serve for over a decade.”

OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s Hospital already partner to bring nationally-recognized care to infants and children at Mansfield Hospital. Pediatric hospitalists will remain at Mansfield Hospital full-time.

Construction on the $38.4 million project is expected to begin in Spring of 2026.

Below are renderings of the new building:

A panel of nurses and physicians will select up to ten winners, whose artwork will be displayed in the pediatric unit. Winners will also be invited to an open house on November 13, where Martin Hanawalt, MD, medical director of Mansfield Hospital’s Pediatric Hospitalist Program, will deliver a brief speech on this year's contest theme.

"Community engagement through events like these is vital,” said Mansfield Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Libby Daniels, M.Ed, BSN, RN. “It not only enriches our environment but also fosters a sense of belonging and support among our patients and their families."

Contest Details:

• Who can participate? Open to students in grades K-12.
• How many entries? One submission per student.
• What type of art? Artwork should be on paper or canvas. Submissions will be digitally photographed and resized for display.
• Submission deadline: November 5.
• Drop-off location: Mansfield Hospital front desk.

We invite all young artists to share their vision of health and look forward to showcasing their talents. If you have questions about the art contest or would like more information, reach out to Pediatric Nurse Heather Nicol: heather.nicol@ohiohealth.com. Good luck!

“It’s always been a goal of mine to come back to the area that I grew up in,” said Dr. Kochheiser. “I believe being rooted in your community is a key element in what makes primary care so critical in our health system.”

Dr. Kochheiser grew up in Bellville and went to Clear Fork High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and attended medical school at Ohio University’s Dublin Campus. He was able to stay in Dublin for his residency at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital.

Similarly, Dr. Coovert stayed in Ohio for her education and training. After graduating from Ashland High School, Dr. Coovert went to The Ohio State University for her undergraduate degree and Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. She completed her residency at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. Like Dr. Kochheiser, Dr. Coovert always knew she wanted to practice back home.

“If you come to Ashland, you just kind of get it,” said Dr. Coovert. “There’s just something about the community here. The people are good people. They really care about each other, they care about the community, they care about their families. And I just knew that that’s where I wanted to practice.”

A clear path forward

Just as Dr. Kochheiser knew he wanted to return to the Mansfield area, his career path was also a sure thing. He caught the bug to care for others after breaking his arm when he was little.

“I thought it was cool that somebody was able to fix me when I was in need,” said Dr. Kochheiser. “I wanted to be able to do that same thing when I became an adult in my career.”

Dr. Kochheiser carried the idea that he’d return home to practice with him throughout his entire training. In fact, he says he tailored some of his training experience to what he thought the Richland County area needed.

“We had some elective time in my third year where I got to choose my own experiences with how I spent that time,” said Dr. Kochheiser. “I spent some extra time learning about some mental health needs and psychiatric care. I also knew there was a lot of chronic disease in this area, so I wanted to make sure I had a strong cardiovascular background.”

Just as Dr. Kochheiser knew he wanted to go into medicine at an early age, Dr. Coovert also felt sure after being exposed to it first-hand. Her mother was an ER nurse and made a huge impact on her.

“She was just a rock star,” said Dr. Coovert. “The passion and pride she had being an ER nurse and being a part of people's care was just really infectious.”

Dr. Coovert initially thought she’d go into emergency medicine as well and went into medical school with that goal. But she found herself increasingly interested in ways to help prevent patients from going to the ER in the first place. She was also drawn to connecting with patients over time to make a difference in their health throughout their lives. So, when she experienced family medicine for the first time, that’s when she knew she found her calling.

“I completely fell in love with it,” said Dr. Coovert. “And I’m probably biased, but I do think family medicine is the best specialty, because I think you can make the most difference.”

Prevention is key

Both Dr. Coovert and Dr. Kochheiser are firm believers in preventative care. In fact, Dr. Kochheiser says it’s the main reason he went into family medicine.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to help people maintain their health and prevent some kind of adverse event down the line,” said Dr. Kochheiser. “We only get one body. I want to make sure we do things to help maintain it.”

Dr. Kochheiser has a special interest in lifestyle medicine, sports medicine, and chronic disease management. He also uses osteopathic manipulation treatments (OMT) in practice, a type of treatment that uses hands-on techniques to improve musculoskeletal function.

Dr. Coovert’s passions within family medicine include pediatrics, geriatrics, managing chronic illness, including diabetes and hypertension, and preventative care.

“Prevention is more than just screening for diseases,” said Dr. Coovert. “Our day-to-day decisions, like the foods we eat, the amount we move our body, the amount of screen time we have, etc; decisions like these really paint a picture of our health and make a big impact.”

Dr. Coovert is taking new patients, newborn and older, at the OhioHealth Ashland Health Center. Dr. Kochheiser is accepting new patients, three and up, at the OhioHealth Physician Group Primary Care building located at 558 S Trimble Road in Mansfield. To make an appointment with Dr. Coovert, call 567-309-6560. To make an appointment with Dr. Kochheiser, call 419-524-1410.

Jaxson Gipson is a small, but healthy boy, now gaining weight at an impressive pace with the help of a feeding tube, but it was a long battle to get here. 

At just 24 weeks pregnant, Gipson experienced a terrifying scare. 

“She called me and I just answered normally and she was like, ‘Mom!!,'” said Brandi Jacobs, Brittany's mom. “Well I knew, you know your kids voice, so right then I’m like, ‘What’s wrong?!!’”

Brittany called her mom and told her she was bleeding badly. She had Placenta Previa, a condition where the placenta covers the opening of the uterus, and was told if she ever started bleeding, she needed to get to the hospital immediately.

The Shelby Fire Department showed up minutes later.

“Typically, with emergent calls like that, our preference is to go directly to Mansfield, to a trauma center where a hospital is more capable of handling situations like that," said Calvin Redden, a firefighter with the Shelby Fire Department. "But given the situation, the priority was to get to a hospital period as fast as we could.”

Gipson ended up getting multiple blood transfusions at OhioHealth Shelby Hospital to stabilize her. 

Doctors wanted to get her to a hospital with the highest level of care for high-risk pregnancies, but with rough weather, they weren't able to fly her. 

That's when the team made the decision to get her to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. With the Shelby rescue squad still waiting outside, they were able to get her there in record time.

“As soon as I got to Mansfield, they had the baby out in ten minutes,” said Gipson. 

A team of physicians, including a Nationwide Children's Hospital Pediatric Hospitalist, were waiting for Gipson and delivered her baby safely. 

“I'm like at this point, ‘did the baby even make it?’" said Jacobs. “And she said, ‘he did!’ And at that point, tears were flowing.”

Jaxson was born less than 13 inches long and one pound 11 ounces. 

What followed was some time in the ICU for Brittany and months in the NICU for baby Jaxson. He was put on a ventilator, a CPAP, and now an oxygen and feeding tube. 

Nine months later, he's making incredible progress, and if it weren't for the coordination between Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals and local first responders, and the team at Mansfield prepped and ready for Gipson, things may turned out differently.

“I’m very thankful for them and their fast actions,” said Jacobs.

Brittany's thankful, too. She looks forward to a lifetime of memories ahead with her little miracle. 

The team of seven athletic trainers were led by head athletic trainer Josh Wiemels. He was joined by David Jameyson, Rob Cremeans, Sam Olewiler, Savannah Line, Lydia Barona, and Rachel Kornbluth.

“We’re proud to see our OhioHealth athletic trainers at Ashland University recognized by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference,” said Lisa Parker AT, manager of OhioHealth Sports Medicine. “The health and safety of student athletes is our top priority. Our athletic trainers along with team physicians, Dr. Matt Bernhard, Dr. Mario Brunicardi and Dr. Ken Cayce provide exceptional care for all.  OhioHealth is honored to have been the healthcare provider for Ashland Athletics since 2018, and we look forward to continuing to care for them in the years to come".

The athletic trainers support 24 sports teams at Ashland University, several of which are already in season for 2025-2026.

Jody Allton LISW-S, LCDC3 has seen a lot of change in the 41 years she’s worked at Mansfield Hospital. For starters, back when she started as a social worker in 1984, policies were much different.

“I remember rounding with physicians and they smoked as they went in and out of patients’ rooms,” said Allton.

She also remembers the average length of stay for patients being double the time it is today. Back then, Allton says patients typically stayed 10-14 days. Now, the average stay is between 5-7 days.

Allton says decades later, things look a lot different. Not just within the hospital, but within the behavioral health unit.

In the early 90’s, Allton and the behavioral health team were asked to develop an adolescent psych unit. They worked with Mansfield City Schools to provide a tutor for students and a school program. Now, nearly 40 years later, both the adolescent unit and a tutor from Mansfield City Schools remain. Mansfield Hospital continues to be the only hospital within OhioHealth to have an adolescent unit within their behavioral health unit.

"It speaks volumes about the administrative team and how supportive they are of behavioral health services,” said Allton.

Just recently, the behavioral health unit was redesigned to better meet some unique patient needs. According to Allton, all adolescents now have private, single occupancy rooms. The change addresses some adolescent patients’ struggles with sexual identity issues.

‘I chose behavioral health’

While Allton wasn’t always sure she wanted to work in a hospital, she always knew she was interested in helping people. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychiatry at The College of Wooster and her master’s degree from The Ohio State University. Allton’s first job was running the intake unit at a youth camp for delinquent boys. She later worked at Sobriety House, a halfway house in Mansfield for teens and adults. She was hired as a social worker at Mansfield General three years later.

While at the hospital, her responsibilities quickly grew. In addition to being a social worker for the behavioral health unit, she was also a social worker/pre-screener for the emergency department. Eventually, she became the manager of the social work department, on top of her psychiatric social work role. Around 1998, Allton was promoted to director of behavioral health and social work for the hospital and took on case management as well. She did that for nearly 20 years, until she was asked to commit to case management or behavioral health.

“I decided that I started my career in behavioral health, so I was going to end my career in behavioral health,” said Allton.

Allton also later became the director of behavioral health at Marion General Hospital, and eventually the director of the intensive outpatient program at Marion General.

A Community Advocate

While Allton has made a lasting impact on the behavioral health unit at Mansfield Hospital, her work outside the hospital is just as impressive.

Over the last few decades, Allton’s been involved in countless community groups in Richland, Ashland, Marion, Knox and Crawford Counties.

In Richland County alone, Allton is on the Crisis Intervention Team Advisory, helped to establish the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program, and was a major contributor in forming the Richland County Opiate Board.

“We have seen a huge reduction in overdoses in our community because of that program [Opiate Board],” said Allton.

Allton also still has one year left in her term as a board member for the Chamber of Commerce in Ashland County and was the former chair. She plans to go to more Chamber events this year with her new time.

When Allton isn’t continuing to give back to her community, she plans to spend more time with children and first grandchild in Charleston, South Carolina and Statesville, North Carolina.

Her last day at Mansfield and Marion General Hospitals is October 3rd. She says she looks forward to watching the behavioral health teams continue to remain an integral component of care for behavioral health patients in Richland, Marion, and surrounding counties.

The project features iconic regional landmarks, incorporated into a unique illustration. Some of the recognizable markers include the downtown carrousel, North Central Ohio Land Conservancy, Bellville Bridge, Kingwood Gardens, Renaissance Theatre, Ontario Clock Tower, Snow Trails, Shelby Arch, and Deer Ridge Golf Club. Other community moments include a doctor with a mother and newborn, a pediatric patient driving a mini car to surgery, and people dining outside in downtown Mansfield.

“It’s important for OhioHealth to continue to support the beautification of downtown Mansfield, part of a community OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital is so invested in,” said Curt Gingrich MD, president of Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “This wallscape helps encapsulate the fabric of Richland County and the surrounding region, which OhioHealth is an integral part of.”

The wallscape was installed in mid August. It’s located on the intersection of North Main and 4^th Street.

U.S. News’ annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their health care providers in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.

“At OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, we provide Richland County and the surrounding area expert care for complex conditions, meeting patients’ needs where they live, work, and raise families,” said Curt Gingrich, MD, president of Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “We’re proud to earn this distinction from U.S. News & World Report, and will continue to strive for the best outcomes and experiences for our patients every day.”

“For more than three decades, U.S. News has been an invaluable guide for patients,” said Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis Ben Harder at U.S. News. “Hospitals designated as ‘High Performing’ by U.S. News demonstrate a consistent ability to provide excellent care for particular medical procedures and conditions, showcasing their specialized expertise as well as dedication to exceptional patient outcomes.”

U.S. News evaluated more than 4,400 hospitals across 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions; only one third of them earned an award. To determine the Best Hospitals, U.S. News analyzed each hospital’s performance based on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from over 800 million records of patient care.

About OhioHealth  

Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.   

Serving its communities since 1891, OhioHealth is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 16 hospitals, three joint-venture hospitals, 200+ ambulatory sites and other health services spanning a 50-county area. For more information, visit ohiohealth.com. 

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

Some may admire the couple's visible signs of affection in their golden years, but what many don't know is Reich and Shoemaker are still in their honeymoon phase. 

They've only been married one month!

“She was single, and I’ve been single for quite a few years, so time to start a new life," said Reich.

Shoemaker and Reich met in 2021. A fellow fitness center member introduced them, thinking they'd bond over their German heritage. But according to Reich, he had his eyes on Shoemaker long before that.

“I said, ‘Hey, this is a nice looking chick..’ Why not?” said Reich.

The two started spending more and more time together. They would go out to eat, go to church, and of course, work out together every day. 

By 2025, the couple decided to make it official and tie the knot.

“Of course I have so many friends here and they helped,” said Shoemaker. “They said, ‘Oh! We’re going to take you shopping! We’re going to buy a wedding dress.’”

At 84-years-old, Shoemaker went wedding dress shopping with friends from the gym and said ‘I do’ at the courthouse on July 10th.

Those same friends then threw her a wedding reception the next day at the fitness center, where it all started. 

“Of course they threw us a party,” Shoemaker said.

One month later, ‘Congratulations Hans and Gisela’ is still written on the gym's chalk board, and the newlyweds are able to walk by it and smile every day.

The changes made are somewhat simple: new paint, signage, and pictures, but what the hallway represents means everything.

“May this wall remind us every day of a quiet heroism that lives on in the walls of this hospital,” said Erin Stine, senior advisor of philanthropy for the OhioHealth Foundation.

The hospital unveiled a memorial wall Wednesday, honoring patients who have given the gift of life. Every patient on the wall has donated either an organ or tissue. 

The wall of heroes currently features eight donors, with room for many more, allowing family members to stop by and see their loved ones honored. One of the donors featured on the wall is Steven Beasley. His widow, Milly, was able to see the memorial wall for the first time last week. 

“It's beautiful,” said Milly Beasley.

While Steven wasn't able to donate his organs, she takes comfort knowing he gave someone the gift of sight.

“For him to be able to honor somebody, with him not having good sight, to give someone good sight, we just thought that was a great honor,” said Beasley. “So we just decided to go ahead and do it.”

Beasley was one of several family members present for the emotional ceremony to unveil the memorial wall.

While more than 100,000 people are still waiting for a life-saving transplant in the U.S., these families take pride knowing Mansfield Hospital is recognizing their loved ones for saying “yes” to being a donor.

According to Richland Public Health Commissioner Julie Chaya, M.A., M.Ed, Ph.D, 39 people received mammograms throughout the day. OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s North Market Mobile Mammography Unit completed 20, and Cleveland Clinic completed 19. Dr. Chaya says nearly a dozen people were tested for HIV, Hepatitis C, or Syphilis, 145 people received blood pressure checks or other various lab tests, and a dozen people got vaccines. Mansfield Hospital and OhioHealth Clinically Integrated Network medical professionals on site also completed 31 skin cancer screenings, as well as several registrations for Cologuard kits to screen for colorectal cancer.

“Preventative care is a top priority for OhioHealth” said Elisa Bryant, MSML, BSN, OCN, a business project manager of oncology services at Mansfield Hospital and OhioHealth Shelby Hospital. “We want to keep our community healthy and prevent health issues before they become bigger problems down the line. We know the best ways to do that are through screenings and education, and eliminating barriers to care such as cost and lack of access.”

Just over a month ago, Taylor Sexton hit the road before it was light out to head to Myrtle Beach for a softball tournament on Memorial Day Weekend. She was called into Mansfield Hospital late the night before to respond to a trauma case, so she was tired, to say the least. But before she could stop to get her morning coffee, she witnessed something that jolted her awake.

“I was driving down I-71 South for about ten minutes, so, about ten miles south of Mansfield, and I saw a car hit the guard rail heading north,” said Sexton.

Sexton pulled over to the side of the highway and called 911. Without thinking, she ran across the highway to check on the driver.

“I got him out of his car,” said Sexton. “He was fine, just kind of shaken up. But every car that was flying by on I-71 was hitting pieces of his car and they were flying everywhere.”

The driver explained to Sexton he fell asleep at the wheel. She suggested they move to her car to avoid getting hit by any pieces of car. But according to Sexton, they never had time to.

“About the time I said that, a semi came and hit a part of his car and the guardrail,” said Sexton. “I think he overcorrected, and instead of going into the median, he pulled to the right towards the ditch, which happened to be the bridge and the guardrail.”

According to Sexton, the semi-truck soared off I-71, clearing State Route 546 below.

“It was just like a bright flash,” said Sexton. “And it was just smoking really bad.”

Once again, Sexton jumped into action. She ran towards the wreck, calling 911 to alert them to the second crash. She ended up having to clear a fence and standing water before she could reach the truck on its side. Sexton climbed into the truck through the windshield that had peeled off to get to the driver.

“He was scared,” said Sexton. “He struggled moving because he did something to his hip so he couldn't move very well.”

Sexton immediately helped the driver out of his truck and began checking him out. On top of his hip injury, she says he had a big bump on the side of his head, most likely from hitting it on his window.

“I was worried about his head, because if his hip was broken, I didn’t want to injure that more than it already was” said Sexton. “But we had to get him out of his truck because it was smoking really bad and he said he just filled his tank up with gas.”

Sexton stayed with the driver until EMS arrived to take him to Mansfield Hospital. Due to HIPAA regulations, she wasn’t able to find out his condition. But Sexton says one month later, she still thinks about him often.

“I hope he’s ok,” she said.

Sexton hopes the driver may come across this story and reach out to let her know how he’s doing. Whether she ever hears from him or not, she feels confident knowing she did everything she could to help him during his terrifying moments.

OhioHealth will honor Sexton at an upcoming Columbus Crew game for her brave actions. The match will be on August 23 at 7:30 p.m.

A new radiation oncologist at

During his time at the New York Proton Center, he worked with oncologic experts at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore, some of the world’s most respected cancer centers. “We conducted innovative trials there and used cutting-edge treatments, many of which we are already implementing at Mansfield Hospital and the surrounding area,” said Dr. Hasan. One of those treatments includes Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. It’s a precise, innovative radiation therapy technique that can deliver a higher dose of radiation per treatment session. This allows the treatment to be completed in a considerably shorter timeframe compared to standard radiation therapy. While this is already being offered at Mansfield Hospital, Dr. Hasan’s expertise will allow more patients the opportunity to receive it.

While Dr. Hasan has vast clinical experience, he leans on his partner, Michael Siedow, MD, and other oncologists at OhioHealth for advice and expertise on some of his cases. In fact, they meet every day for an hour to discuss current cases and any new development in the oncology field. “One of the reasons I came to OhioHealth is because they offer many of the same cutting-edge treatments that were developed at leading cancer institutions,” said Dr. Hasan. “I’ve never seen this level of collaboration on so many cases, at so many levels of care. It’s as if every patient gets five consults in one.” 

Dr. Hasan and Dr. Siedow see patients in the OhioHealth Physician Group Radiation Oncology Office. The building across the street from Mansfield Hospital on Glessner Avenue just underwent several renovations, including new furniture, flooring, paint, and landscaping. The improvements were supported by the OhioHealth Foundation and a division of OhioHealth.

It was the first cancer survivor celebration since the pandemic, reminding patients of their strength and resilience, and encouraging them to move forward. 

“A cancer diagnosis is a life changing event, but life goes on,” said Michael Siedow, MD, speaking to the crowd. “The hair grows back.”

Mansfield Hospital radiation and medical oncologists spent the evening catching up with patients, some of whom became friends along the way. 

One of those patients still fighting her battle is Laura Demarest. 

“I'm very blessed,” said Demarest. 

Her optimism is palpable. While she's battling stage four breast cancer, she continues to see the positive. 

“Even though I’m a stage four, I’ve been a stage four cancer for almost two years,” said Demarest. “I’m still doing well. Still doing the things I love to do in life. Traveling, going places, have hobbies. I’m retired now so, life is sweet.”

Demarest feels her outlook on life may have gotten her to this point today, along with the help of her doctors she speaks so highly of. Instead of seeing the end, she's seeing the future.

“The treatments that are happening, you hear of every week,” said Demarest. “This week, I was listening to the news, and they talked about a vaccine for breast cancer.”

Demarest's outlook is a reflection of the OhioHealth message: Move forward, rebuild, and keep making plans. 

 “Our recent upgrades to our MRI systems are transforming our patients' scanning experience,” said Chris Clark, MBA, PT, director of radiation and cancer services at OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “These upgrades enable much faster, high-quality scans to quickly get our patients back to their busy lives.”

Mansfield Hospital installed the MAGNETOM Sola from Siemens in May. The more than $1 million dollar upgrade offers top-tier image quality, faster care, and reduced energy consumption.

Ontario Health Center will begin scanning patients with the new OASIS Velocity Open MRI System from Fujifilm on June 24. The open design provides patients with an unobstructed view, while the imaging capabilities provide high-resolution images, allowing radiologists to more accurately determine what is concerning, and what’s not, in a patient’s exam. Ontario Health Center’s manager of imaging services also says this will drastically decrease scan times for patients.

Ontario Health Center offers scheduled non-contrast MRI’s and CT scans, as well as walk-in x-ray exams. Mansfield Hospital offers a variety of scheduled imaging tests, including contrast and non-contrast MRI’s, CT scans, and x-rays. To make an appointment after receiving a provider order, call 614-566-1111.

Holiday weekends often increase the need for travel, which can raise the likelihood of accidents. Last year, it was reported by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) that 26 people were killed in 22 fatal crashes during Memorial Day weekend.

OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital is the only Level III-N trauma center in a 60-mile radius of Mansfield. Trauma Surgeon Alexander Chapman, MD, emphasizes the importance of being actively engaged while driving to help stay aware of your surroundings.

“Wearing your seatbelt, making sure you are aware of your surroundings while you are driving, making sure you are being safe while you are driving, all that stuff is critical to preventing injury,” Dr. Chapman said. “People get hurt doing things that they do every day… Be mindful, be safe, watch those around you and make sure that they are being safe as well.”

It is important to stay cautious while driving any time of the year, but especially during the summer months. Dr. Chapman says remaining vigilant while traveling can help people avoid unnecessary injuries and keep them out of harm’s way.

Donating blood is a great way to help support trauma centers like Mansfield Hospital in performing life- saving work. OhioHealth gets its blood from members of the community who are willing to donate. Without these contributions, they would not have the opportunity to support as many patients.

“Blood supply has been short for years now. It’s a little bit better off than we were several years ago, but it still remains on shortage,” Dr. Chapman said. “In the last year, OhioHealth has started a whole blood transfusion program, so we have units of whole blood, which is better for people who have lost a lot of blood right off the bat.”

In fatal situations, such as gunshot wounds or serious injuries, Dr. Chapman says the hospital has special protocols in place to get people as much as 70 units at a time.

Every precaution that you and those around you take while driving or doing daily activities can help keep you safe and prevent life altering trauma.

“With large vessel occlusions, for every minute it takes before the vessel gets opened, that equals one week of rehab,” said OhioHealth EMS Coordinator Zach Smith, EMT-P. “That’s always in the back of my mind, so that helps me expedite transport even faster.”

While time is of the essence, it’s not the only responsibility a paramedic has when transporting a potential stroke patient. According to Garrett Bassett DO, FACEP, medical director of OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Emergency Department, many medical conditions can mimic a stroke. Some of these conditions include low blood sugar, sepsis, seizures, or migraines. Together, paramedics and the emergency physician work to evaluate for these other conditions. “Figuring out if this is a stroke, or one of these other stroke mimics, is very important,” said Dr. Bassett.

Confirming a patient is indeed having a stroke is a big part of the puzzle. Physicians can then get the patient the appropriate medical treatment they need, such as a clot-busting drug when a clot is blocking blood flow to the brain. However, depending on what medications the patient is taking, treatment can be limited. “A patient’s medical history is incredibly important,” said Dr. Bassett. “If they’re on a blood thinner, it really limits what we can do.” Patients on blood thinners can’t take clot-busting medication due to increased risk of bleeding. Many times, Dr. Bassett says emergency physicians lean on paramedics to learn the patient’s medical history. That’s why Smith gives a list of blood thinners to all paramedics he works with to help them identify whether patients are on them. It’s a small action that could make a great deal of difference down the line.

Within ten minutes of arriving at the hospital, a patient gets a CT scan to determine whether or not they have bleeding in the brain. From there, they may receive a clot-busting medication to dissolve their blood clot, depending on their risk of bleeding, or be taken to a Comprehensive Stroke Center, such as Riverside Methodist Hospital, that can remove their clot from the vessel.  

While Mansfield Hospital is the only Primary Stroke Center in Richland County and its surrounding area, meaning it has the resources to manage acute stroke patients and meet their medical, recovery, and social needs, options become limited after time has passed. Dr. Bassett says after four and a half hours, treatment options are more limited.  That’s why he urges anyone who thinks there’s a chance they’re having a stroke to seek medical care immediately. “Don't wait to see your doctor,” said Dr. Bassett. “And don’t wait to see if symptoms go away if you haven't. We need to know right away.”

During National Stroke Awareness Month this May, local EMS got together to discuss stroke symptoms and train on expediting transport. Smith says OhioHealth’s Stroke Network educates fire departments in Richland County and its surrounding counties to make sure paramedics can spot stroke symptoms and begin protocol as fast as possible. Smith says this training helps paramedics get patients to hospitals as fast as they can, and ultimately, save lives.  

The woman behind the donation, Erika M., RN, leader of the girl scout troop, happens to also be a nurse in the Women’s Health Unit at Mansfield Hospital. She says she noticed a need in the community first-hand. “There's a community need for some car seats to be on hand, and there just wasn't any available,” said Erika. “It had seemed to be on the weekends, especially, when we had some roadblocks with community resources being closed or just not available to help those families in the community.” After experiencing these situations multiple times, Erika decided to get the troop involved to help. “Our troop has a mission to serve and uplift the community,” said Erika. “And so I thought about, what if we used our money that we earned from selling girl scout cookies to buy car seats and donate to the unit.”

Weeks later, Troop #3591 visited Mansfield Hospital and delivered the car seats in-person. “We were thrilled to receive this donation from our local girl scout group,” said Kelly Payne, MSN, RNC-NIC, nurse manager at Mansfield Hospital. “Making sure our patients have what they need to keep their children safe is incredibly important to our staff, so these donations are invaluable.”

If you’d like to donate to Mansfield Hospital’s Women’s Health Unit, you can call Payne’s office at 419-526-8730. Associates are always accepting car seats for infants, as well as knitted items and blankets.

OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital rolled out the red carpet for nurses during National Nurses Week.

In a scholarship ceremony, Curt Gingrich MD, hospital president of Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals, voiced his appreciation for nurses and their impact on patient care.

“Thank you for driving and influencing our culture and thank you for the way in which you care for patients,” said Dr. Gingrich.

Leaders at Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals showed their gratitude for nurses not just with praise, but scholarships. In fact, this year Mansfield and Shelby Hospital nurses received a record number of scholarships, totaling nearly $80,000.

“I’m super excited that we’re able to award a record number of associate scholarship dollars to help with their professional growth and development,” said Elizabeth Daniels M.Ed., BSN, chief nursing officer of Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “This just strengthens the commitment to our associates in showing up to be their best selves.”

For nurses like Emma Ardis, PRN, these scholarships are instrumental in covering the cost of continuing education. She heads to CRNA school this summer, and now has $5,000 from the Midwest Physicians CRNA Scholarship to help her along the way. 

“I didn’t know the amount until today,” said Ardis. “So, I’m very excited and grateful.”

The OhioHealth Foundation has also created a brand new scholarship for non-nurses, totaling more than $12,000.

“Whether in diagnostics, therapy or support services, your expertise directly contributes to better patient outcomes and a stronger care team,” said Simon Bisson, Vice President of Philanthropy for the OhioHealth Foundation. 

Two of the many recipients of the Mansfield and Shelby Continuing Education Scholarship, Mackenzie Minner SLP and Jordan Witts SLP, plan to use the money towards specific programs in speech therapy.

“I plan on using my scholarship for a FEES course,” said Witts. “FEES is just another way to look at the swallow through a small camera that looks through the patient’s nose and looks down at the throat.”

No matter what these associates use their scholarships for, Dr. Gingrich says they're helping to make them the best versions of themselves, and ultimately, improve culture and care at Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. 

By the time she got to Morrow County Hospital, now OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital, things went from bad to unbearable. “They were starting me out with medication and it just, it wasn’t doing anything,” said Kidwell. “And I was like, screaming, screaming and yelling in the ER for more pain meds.”

Kidwell spent hours writhing in pain, hoping for the medication to kick in. Then, all of a sudden, the pain stopped. There was no explanation for Kidwell’s immediate improvement, so the ER doctor asked her to stay overnight for observation.

The next morning, Kidwell woke up feeling bloated. Her doctor ordered her a CT scan. Ironically, the nurse who helped her prepare for her scan was a personal friend. Not long after, Kidwell says a surgeon and nurses rushed into her room. “They’re like, ‘wipe down,’” said Kidwell. “‘We’re going to take you in for surgery. We need to find out what’s going on. This bloating is concerning.’”

Kidwell says the trip into the operating room was especially frightening, given the fact that she couldn’t see. She didn’t have her contacts in or her glasses on, so all she could do was listen. “I literally can’t see anything, but I can hear people talking to me,” said Kidwell. “So again, small town, grew up here my whole life, Lindsay Levering [Kidwell’s friend] is one of my nurses. So she’s talking to me. ‘Hey, Missy, it’s Lindsay. We’re going to take care of you. I’m going to be with you the whole time.’ And then I get actually into the surgery room, and I hear a voice from across the room. Again, small town hospital, grew up here my whole life, and it’s Mike Beck, who is a dear family friend. I just hear him go, ‘So you’re the reason why they called me in, huh?’”

Kidwell says she immediately got emotional after realizing she was with people she not only knew, but cared for. Her last memory before surgery is of her friend, Mike, comforting her.

“I Could Have Died”

When Kidwell woke up, she had a drain tube down her throat. Her nurses explained she had to have an emergency bowel re-section surgery after a blood clot killed off a portion of her small intestine. She spent the next week at the hospital.

“Everyone was just so attentive,” said Kidwell. “I think because it was a big, major surgery, but also because I was one of the few patients and they would just come in and be with me, because I was scared and nervous.”

Over the next week, Kidwell was visited by nurses, coworkers, and family. Because she was in her home town, her ex-husband was able to bring her sons every day to visit her. “There was something very safe and peaceful about that, that I could get the care that I was receiving while being able to be close to the people that I love the most.”

While Kidwell didn’t know many of her nurses, she became close with all of them. In fact, some of them checked on her well after she was released. She learned one of her night nurses lived in the house next to her office building. Months later, he showed up to her work, asking her how she was feeling. Kidwell says she ran into another nurse of hers years later at the movie theater. “We just kind of started chatting, and I kind of reminded her of my situation,” said Kidwell. “She goes, ‘Oh my gosh, I think about you all the time.’”

Kidwell left the hospital on Christmas Eve. She says if she hadn’t stayed overnight in Morrow County Hospital’s emergency room for observation, she would have died. “100% they saved my life,” said Kidwell. “And you know, I really kind of accredited that to the fact that it was a small town. Anywhere else, had I been in some big hospital that’s having lots of people come in and lots of things that they may have deemed worse than me, I could have died.”

While Kidwell’s major surgery happened nearly a decade ago, she still thinks about it to this day. During National Patient Experience Week, she wanted to share her story so others in Mount Gilead know the type of experience to expect out of Morrow County Hospital.

“You can get quality care right here,” said Kidwell. “And we’re so lucky. We’re so lucky to be a small town with a hospital where you can see surgeons. Surgeons are on call for the hospital that are doing colon cancer surgery.”

Kidwell says with the exception of one vascular specialist, every physician she saw for her care was in Mount Gilead. She wants others to know Morrow County Hospital has the same top-quality providers as larger hospitals, while having the small-town feel that brought her comfort.

“Sure, you can get wonderful care anywhere, but the chances of running into your nurses years later or having your nurse that worked at night shift when you were there pop into your place of work and check on you, that isn’t going to happen anywhere else,” said Kidwell.

 She’s thankful for the surgeon and physicians who saved her life, and for the nurses and other medical staff who treated her more like a loved one than a patient.

While a left atrial appendage occlusion surgery sounds rather complex, the procedure can take as little as an hour. Interventional cardiologists use a catheter to insert a mechanical device to close off the left atrial appendage in patients with AFib. Some of the more popular devices used in this procedure are the WATCHMAN™ device and Amulet™ device. By closing off the left atrial appendage, these devices are preventing blood clots from going into the blood stream. Patients with AFib are at an increased risk of a stroke because blood can collect in the left atrial appendage, or pouch, and form clots. When the heart pushes these clots out, it can travel to the brain, causing a stroke, or any other part of the body. In order to prevent this, providers can either put the patient on blood thinners, or the patient can get their appendage closed off.

Not everyone is the right candidate for a left atrial appendage occlusion. Patients with AFib who qualify have to have a medium to high risk of stroke, and a reason for not tolerating blood thinners. Reasons can range anywhere from the cost of the medication, to being at an increased risk of bleeding. According to Yohannes Bayissa, MD, medical director of the Structural Heart Program at Mansfield Hospital, this procedure is both safe and effective. "Right now, it's a mainstay treatment in the space of AFib for those with medium to high stroke risk and a history of intolerance to blood thinners” said Dr. Bayissa. “The device is very safe procedure-wise. Major complications such as bleeding around the groin or heart are below 0.5%.” On top of that, according to Atish Mathur, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Mansfield Hospital, this procedure reduces your risk of dying. “The biggest problem with blood thinners is that when patients are left on them, they’re at a significantly higher risk of major bleeding,” said Dr. Mathur. “We know that once a person has a major bleeding, the odds of them dying are about 11 times higher. So by preventing those bleeding episodes, this device not only prevents you from having a stroke, it actually prevents dying from this potential bleeding,”

KEEPING CARE LOCAL

Mansfield Hospital is the only hospital in Richland County and its surrounding counties to offer this elective procedure. Structural heart procedures, like this one, can only be performed in Level III Catheterization Labs. Level III Cath Labs require a back-up open heart surgeon available for all procedures. “We are here to provide state-of-art care for the patients in our community, locally,” said Dr. Mathur. “We don't want patients or families to have to travel long distances to get the high-quality care that we can provide here at Mansfield Hospital.”

If you think you’re a good candidate for a WATCHMAN™ or AMULATE™ procedure, reach out to your primary care provider. They can refer you directly to a structural heart cardiologist, or to a general cardiologist. To learn more about Mansfield Hospital’s heart and vascular services, click here.

An OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital nurse has earned the top score in the nation on the 2024 Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) credentialing exam. According to the Competency and Credentialing Institute’s website, more than 4,200 nurses took the exam last year. Zoe Kalb BSN, RN, CNOR tied with two others to achieve the highest score. The CNOR exam is the only accredited certification for perioperative registered nurses.

According to Kalb, this certification was just as much about patient care as it was about forwarding her education and career. “This certification allows me to proudly display my dedication and commitment to my patients and provide high-quality patient care,” said Kalb. “The study materials gave me a deep dive into current, evidence-based care and up to date AORN [Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses] guidelines that are the basis for the care we provide and the policies our hospital implements. Equipped with this knowledge, I feel I am better able to advocate for my patients, patient safety, and have the knowledge to support the care decisions I make.”

While Kalb seems to be an exemplary nurse, Chief Nursing Officer Elizabeth Daniels M.Ed, BSN, CENP says she’s an example of the quality of nurses at Mansfield Hospital. “This is another example of our nursing team striving for continuous improvement to provide excellent care,” said Daniels. “Zoe’s commitment to invest in her professional growth, and in turn prioritizing the patient, shows the caliber of nurses here at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. These qualities helped earn us Magnet designation in 2023 and I continue to be incredibly proud watching our team grow.”

Magnet designation is the highest and most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. Magnet Recognition® has many benefits- not just for nurses who provide care, but also for the patients who receive that care.

Kalb encourages all nurses to get certified. “Certification in nursing is an amazing opportunity to grow professionally, support your lifelong learning, and strive towards nursing excellence,” said Kalb. OhioHealth makes it easy for its nurses to get certified. The hospital system reimburses many test costs through department funds. It also provides financial support through scholarships.

Kalb accepted her award at the Competency and Credentialing Institute Board Dinner in Boston this month. Her plaque reads, “CNOR highest test score 2024.”

OhioHealth will have information on its’ cancer services, stroke resources, behavioral and mental health services, diabetes education and nutrition, and organ donation. In addition, OhioHealth’s Annette Baxter BSN, RN, CDCES will present on diabetes education, and Anthony Brown MSN, FNP, BRN, a behavioral health nurse, will speak on overcoming homelessness and addiction. 

“OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital believes in keeping care local,” said Angela Brooks-Wright DMin, manager of the Pastoral Care Department at Mansfield Hospital. “Participating in the NAACP Minority Health Fair affords us an opportunity to meet our community members where they are. We are then able to highlight our providers and the services available to meet the needs of those we serve.” 

The event is free and open to the public. Health screenings will also be available.

According to one of the event organizers, Elisa Bryant, MSML, BSN, OCN, business project manager of oncology services at Mansfield Hospital and OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, around 50 people were in attendance, including vendors. Services offered included vaccinations, blood pressure screenings, cholesterol screenings, cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, and bone density screening. Vendors also offered a CPR/choking demonstration, mental health education, women’s health and post-partum care education, vaccine education, cancer screening education, as well as information regarding the various services the agencies in attendance provide.

“We prioritize caring for the Amish community by actively listening to their healthcare concerns and offering those services to meet their needs,” said Bryant. “This fosters trust and continues relationship building with this special community. We strived to eliminate barriers to care, whether that was coordinating payment options, offering education in a way that resonates to their lifestyle, or ensuring that the services provided were in a setting that was comfortable for them. Our goal is to foster a partnership where the Amish community feels empowered and educated to prioritize their health while maintaining their way of life.”

According to Bryant, Amish Women’s Health Day was a direct response to feedback from the annual Amish Health and Safety Day. During that event, Amish women expressed an interest in having a health event focused specifically on women’s health. “We aimed to provide these women with the opportunity to take charge of their health in a setting that respected their unique preferences and needs,” said Bryant.

“The different agencies that are involved in taking care of patients are getting together to talk about how we work together as a team, versus what is each of us doing separately,” said Morrow County Hospital President Mike Hyek. “Because how we work together is critical for the best outcome for the patient.”

In this case, the patient's medical emergency was stroke related. 

Educators and paramedics from the Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit spoke about how to recognize and assess stroke, and how to intervene.  

“Stroke affects no one more,” said Manager of the Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit Nate Jennings. “It’s the leading cause of disability across the country. And so, we know that when people face stroke events, they need to be able to reach an emergency department very quickly to get the life-saving medications that have been tested and true.”

EMS workers and nurses spent the second half of the afternoon practicing stroke scenarios, assessing a patient on the scene and then handing them off at the hospital. 

“No previous history of stroke,” one paramedic told a Morrow Couty Hospital nurse during the exercise. “LAMS score is 4. Patient is not on any blood thinners.”

While the Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit doesn't come to Morrow County for the time being, Jennings says that could change down the line. 

“We’re always thinking about where to take something that is really proven to be effective in managing strokes for our patients into new regions,” said Jennings.

For now, Morrow County Hospital providers are focused on their top-of-the-line resources at the hospital to get patients the best care possible. They know with the collaboration of Morrow County EMS workers; they can save many lives. 

The panel experts included Sarah Rivenburgh, RDN, a registered dietitian specializing in oncology nutrition at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, Jenny Keesee, a board member of the Ashland County Cancer Association, Megan Sippey MD, a general surgeon at University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, Mehrdad Tavallaee MD, a physician specializing in internal medicine at University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, and Liza Hillel BA MSN, a medical science liaison with Exact Sciences. Elisa Bryant, MSML, BSN, a business project manager for oncology services at Mansfield and OhioHealth Shelby Hospitals, moderated the event.

Experts discussed some of the factors that can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, such as family history and genes. Dr. Sippey says a person is at an especially high risk if they have a family member diagnosed before the age of 45. There are also things you can do to decrease your risk of getting this disease, like eating right. According to Rivenburgh, there is strong evidence that whole grains, fiber, and dairy help to reduce the risk of cancer. Conversely, studies show red meat and processed foods can lead to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.  

“Red meat is high in heme-iron and when it’s digested, it creates free radicals that result in damage to DNA and cells,” said Rivenburgh. “If your body doesn’t clear it, it could lead to cancer down the road. When your body digests the heme iron, it can create N-nitroso compounds, or NOCs, which are carcinogenic to the body. For these reasons, we recommend eating little, if any, processed meat and limit red meat to 12-18 ounces per week.”

Experts agreed it’s crucial to improve the screening rates in Ashland County. According to data from the Ohio Department of Health, only 48% of Ashland County’s residents between the ages of 50 and 75 have screened for Colorectal Cancer. “Colorectal cancer is the most preventable cancer, given what we know about how polyps take 10 to 15 years to turn into a cancer-yet it’s the least prevented cancer, said Hillel. When asked what one change the experts would make to lower colorectal cancer deaths, majority said comply with screenings.

After the panel discussion, a 75-year-old colorectal cancer survivor shared her story. Nancy Wasen of Ashland was diagnosed with HPV in 2010, as well as tongue cancer. While she beat that, she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023. She’s since gone through radiation and chemotherapy. A colonoscopy procedure isn’t exactly comfortable, but Wasen says it’s better than a cancer diagnosis.

As a winner of the Press Ganey HX Guardian of Excellence Award®, OhioHealth’s Radiation Oncology program is in the top 5% of healthcare providers in delivering medical practice and outpatient services in the last year. According to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s medical director of radiation oncology, Michael Siedow MD, this award is a direct reflection of the dedication and care of staff at Mansfield Hospital.

“Our staff has been providing cancer care to our community for more than 30 years,” said Dr. Siedow. “We have staff members who were born and raised in the community and have devoted 20-plus years to this department. It is a great sign that both our clinic and OhioHealth overall have retained so many employees for such a long period of time.”

Dr. Siedow credits some of Mansfield Hospital’s cutting-edge technology, as well as the resources of OhioHealth, with helping clinic staff to provide excellent care. “We are the only hospital in Richland County and the surrounding area to offer techniques like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT),” said Dr. Siedow. “SBRT consists of short, high-dose, ultra-precise radiation treatment, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.  We’re able to offer this therapy using our state-of-the-art True Beam Linear accelerator, installed in July of 2023, which allows us to deliver the most accurate radiation technology to the patient. Additionally, we have the ability to refer patients for stereotactic radiosurgery to local clinics in Columbus and Delaware.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 healthcare facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

For more information on Mansfield Hospital’s radiation oncology clinic, click here or call 419-526-8622.