• OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank opened a new milk drop site at the Delaware Public Health District.
• The location gives approved donors in Delaware County a convenient place to donate human milk at no cost.
• The new site brings the total number of OhioHealth milk drop locations across Ohio to 36.
• Donated milk is screened, pasteurized and distributed by prescription to babies in need throughout North America.
• In 2026, the milk bank distributed nearly 491,289 ounces, or 3,838 gallons, of donor milk.

The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank celebrated the grand opening of a new milk drop location at Delaware Public Health District on Oct. 15, 2026. The new milk drop site, located at 470 South Sandusky Street, houses a freezer to store donated human milk, which will then be transferred to the milk bank in Columbus at no cost to the donor.  

The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), provides pasteurized human milk to those infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies. It is one of just 28 milk banks in North America – 25 in the United States and three in Canada. 

“We are thrilled to be opening this new milk drop to make donating even easier,” said Denise Chears, Milk Bank Clinical Nurse at the OhioHealth Mothers Milk Bank. "With this new milk drop, approved donors in and around Delaware can conveniently donate their milk. Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it. In 2026, we distributed nearly 491,289 ounces of milk all over the country – that’s 3,838 gallons! Just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days, so every little bit helps.” 

The Milk Bank has opened several new milk drops, bringing a total of 36 milk drops in Ohio. The donated milk is distributed throughout North America to babies in need.

"We are thrilled to offer this service to families in our community. Human milk plays an important role in giving infants the healthiest possible start in life. Supporting mothers and ensuring infants have the best start is a priority for the Health District, and we are proud to partner in expanding access to donor milk drop locations for families throughout Delaware County." Lauren Robinson, breastfeeding coordinator for Delaware Public Health District, said. 

The Milk Bank, which is located in the OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies. Interested donors are encouraged to visit the website at Mothers' Milk Bank Donation in Ohio | OhioHealth and complete the donation form to start the process. To become a human milk donor, mothers must take part in a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk.  This process includes a phone screening to verify eligibility, completion of a medical and lifestyle history review, a signed medical release from the donor and physician and consent to receive a blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis.  The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen, and distributed by physician prescription. 

Benefits of Breast Milk 

Infants benefit greatly from human milk, especially those who are premature, ill, or have life-threatening conditions. Human milk is the ultimate source of nutrients and immune protection for infants. Babies benefit from the active growth hormones, developmental enzymes, infection fighting and immunological factors found in human milk. 

Research shows that human milk helps pre-term infants: 

• Reach full feeds sooner and need fewer IVs 
• Mature their intestines faster 
• Spend fewer days in the hospital  
• Reduce risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (a potentially fatal bowel infection) 
• Reduce risk of sepsis (blood infection) and fewer infections 
• Experience long-term IQ advantages over formula-fed infants 
• Be healthier as older children and adults 

More information about the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, including a video, may be found at https://www.ohiohealth.com/locations/womens-health/mothers-milk-bank/

• OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital earned the ANCC Pathway to Excellence designation.
• The recognition highlights a supportive, empowering nursing environment.
• Nurses reported strong alignment with national Pathway standards.
• The Designation reflects a commitment to excellence patient care. 

OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital has earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence designation, recognizing its positive nursing practice environment and commitment to supporting the nurses who care for patients, families and the Dublin community.

“Earning the ANCC Pathway to Excellence designation is an important milestone in our ongoing work to elevate health care delivery for the communities we serve,” Cherie Smith, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, president of OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital and OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, said. “It reflects the dedication of our nurses, leaders and interdisciplinary partners who embraced this journey and brought the Pathway standards to life across our hospital. We’re proud to celebrate this achievement and grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. Their commitment has strengthened our culture and helps us continue providing exceptional care to every patient and family who turns to us.”

The international designation recognizes health care organizations where frontline nurses are supported, involved in decision-making, encouraged to grow professionally and empowered to provide high-quality patient care. The Pathway framework centers on six standards: Shared Decision-Making, Leadership, Safety, Quality, Well-Being and Professional Development.

Together, these standards give nurses a voice in patient care and policies, promote supportive leadership, prioritize safety and quality, and create opportunities for well-being and professional growth.

For Dublin Methodist, this recognition reflects our deep commitment to our frontline nurses, while advancing nursing leadership and sustaining a workplace culture where nurses feel respected, supported, and valued,” said Abby Evans, manager of Nursing Excellence at OhioHealth. “This designation matters because it is more than an award. It is a visible marker of the environment we are building for the people who care for our patients, families, and community every day.”

“This designation recognition is a meaningful reflection of the culture our nurses create every day at Dublin Methodist Hospital, one where their voices shape decisions, leaders are present and supportive, safety and quality guide our work, well-being matters, and professional growth is encouraged,” Jodie Wegmiller, Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President of Patient Care Services at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital and OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital said. “Most importantly, it affirms our commitment to creating an environment where nurses can thrive and, in turn, provide exceptional care to our patients, families, and community.”

Earning the designation required an extensive evaluation by the ANCC. Dublin Methodist first assessed its nursing environment against national eligibility standards, then submitted a detailed 600-page document showing how the six Pathway standards are embedded in daily nursing operations.

The process concluded with a confidential survey open to all 553 Dublin Methodist nurses. The hospital achieved 78% participation, with nurses expressing strong agreement that they experience the Pathway standards in practice.

“That response was not only a requirement of designation; it was a powerful affirmation from our nurses that this culture is real, lived, and meaningful,” Evans said.

Dublin Methodist nurses and associates were at the heart of achieving this designation. Nurses helped assess the care environment, prepare the 600-page submission and encourage survey participation, reflecting their daily commitment to patients and one another. Their work in shared decision-making, quality and safety showed how Dublin Methodist puts the Pathway standards into practice.

“This achievement belongs to our nurses, our leaders, our interdisciplinary partners, and to everyone who believes that excellent patient care begins with an excellent environment for caregivers,” Evans said.

The designation reflects a nursing culture grounded in empowerment, collaboration, professional growth and a commitment to doing what is best for patients. That culture translates directly to the patient experience. “When nurses feel valued, supported and empowered, they are better positioned to advocate for patients, communicate effectively with patients and families, collaborate across disciplines and identify opportunities to improve care,” Evans said.

Patients experience that culture through compassionate interactions, strong communication, attention to safety and a team that genuinely invested in their well-being.

“For our community members, this designation is a promise that Dublin Methodist is committed to excellence not only in outcomes, but in the experience of care,” Evans said.

The Pathway to Excellence designation follows a four-year cycle, requiring continued assessment, implementation of nursing practice improvements and evaluation of the hospital’s positive practice environment. Dublin Methodist will continue listening to nurses and associates, learning from patients and families, and seeking opportunities to improve the care experience.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we also recognize that Pathway to Excellence is not a finish line; it is a foundation,” Evans said. “It challenges us to keep listening to our nurses, keep investing in their growth, and keep building the kind of hospital our community deserves.”

• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Team has completed its 100th Amulet™ left atrial appendage occlusion procedure.
• The minimally invasive procedure helps reduce stroke risk for patients with AFib who cannot safely take blood-thinning medications.
• Mansfield Hospital has performed more than 650 left atrial appendage closure procedures using both Amulet™ and Watchman™ devices.
• Advanced cardiac imaging helps the team select the best device for each patient’s anatomy and guide placement during the procedure.
• The program gives patients across north central Ohio access to advanced cardiovascular care closer to home.

OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Program has reached another significant milestone, successfully completing its 100th Amulet™ left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure. The achievement highlights the program’s continued growth in providing advanced stroke prevention options for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).

The Amulet device is implanted in patients who are at high risk for stroke but cannot safely take blood-thinning medications due to bleeding risks or other complications. The minimally invasive procedure involves placing a device in the heart to seal off the left atrial appendage, where blood clots can form in patients with AFib. By preventing clots from entering the bloodstream, the device helps reduce the risk of stroke.

Mansfield Hospital has performed more than 650 left atrial appendage closure procedures overall, including both Watchman™ and Amulet™ devices. While Watchman was the first device of its kind available, the Structural Heart Team has continued expanding its expertise with the Amulet device, reaching 100 procedures despite the need for careful patient selection based on individual anatomy.

“The left atrial appendage is unique in every patient, much like a fingerprint,” said Atish Mathur, MD, interventional cardiologist at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. “Having access to multiple device options allows us to select the treatment that best fits each patient’s anatomy and gives us the greatest opportunity for a successful outcome. Advanced imaging allows our team to understand that anatomy before we begin and helps guide us during the procedure.”

According to Dr. Mathur, the structural heart team heavily relies on cardiovascular imaging to better understand a patient’s anatomy. Cardiovascular imaging physicians provide sophisticated cardiac imaging, including cardiac CT and echocardiographic imaging, that helps the heart team understand a patient's anatomy before treatment. This information can help physicians plan the procedure and select an appropriate treatment strategy for the patient. Imaging expertise continues into the procedure itself. Working alongside the interventional cardiology team, physicians use specialized cardiac imaging to help guide treatment in real time, assess device positioning, and evaluate the result before the procedure is completed.

Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Team serves patients not only from Richland County, but also from surrounding communities throughout north central Ohio. Through outreach and education efforts, the program has helped increase awareness among providers and patients about advanced structural heart procedures available close to home.

“What makes our program unique is that we offer both Watchman™ and Amulet™ devices and have extensive experience with each,” said Dr. Mathur. “Through detailed imaging and planning, we can often determine which device will be the best fit before the procedure, helping patients avoid unnecessary delays and giving them confidence that they are receiving the right treatment for their condition.”

The milestone reinforces Mansfield Hospital’s commitment to providing advanced cardiovascular care locally, allowing patients to receive specialized treatment closer to home rather than traveling to larger metropolitan areas.

Patients interested in learning whether they may be candidates for a left atrial appendage occlusion procedure should speak with their primary care provider or cardiologist. Referrals can be made directly to Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Program.

• OhioHealth received the Ohio Hospital Association's 2026 Chapman Sustainability Leadership Award for its environmental leadership and measurable results.
• The organization has reduced energy use intensity by 18/1% since establishing its Board sustainability goals.
• OhioHealth has expanded recycling, eliminated kitchen food waste going to landfills and incorporate sustainability into purchasing, construction and transportation.
• These efforts support operational efficiency, resilience, patient care and healthier communities.

_{Left to Right: Dain Sykes, OhioHealth Director, Facilities Management, Lisa Majchrzak, OhioHealth Advisor of Sustainability, Adam Brown, OhioHealth Controls Technician}

OhioHealth has received the 2026 Chapman Sustainability Leadership Award from the Ohio Hospital Association’s Environmental Leadership Council, recognizing the health system’s sustainability leadership and measurable results across the organization.

The award honors health care organizations for exceptional leadership and achievement in sustainability and environmental stewardship. Recipients are selected through a nomination and review process led by hospital sustainability professionals from across the state.

“OhioHealth has demonstrated what sustainability leadership can look like when it is integrated across an organization,” said Theo Sergakis, director, strategic programs and energy & sustainability for the Ohio Hospital Association. “The Chapman Award recognizes not only measurable progress, but the collaboration and practical approaches that can help advance sustainability across Ohio’s health care community.”

That measurable progress includes an 18.1% reduction in Energy Use Intensity since OhioHealth established its Board sustainability goals. New OhioHealth hospitals also are being designed to perform in the top quartile nationally for energy efficiency.

Sustainability is increasingly built into how OhioHealth plans and builds facilities, chooses products, runs its hospitals and delivers care. The health system has eliminated food waste from its kitchens going to landfills, expanded operating room and blue wrap recycling, and incorporated sustainability into purchasing, construction and transportation.

These efforts are designed to improve operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact and strengthen resilience while supporting OhioHealth’s mission to improve the health of those it serves.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because of the depth of expertise within the Ohio Hospital Association and its Environmental Leadership Council,” said OhioHealth principal advisor of sustainability, Terri Scannell. “OHA has created a strong community where health systems can learn from one another, share what works and continue raising the bar for sustainable health care across Ohio.”

The Chapman Award reflects more than a single project. It recognizes OhioHealth’s broader commitment to making sustainability part of everyday operations and advancing practical approaches that support patient care, operational excellence and healthier communities.

• OhioHealth is now the Official Healthcare Provider of Ohio Athletics.
• The expanded partnership supports 450 student-athletes across all 16 varsity sports.
• The multi-year agreement builds on nearly 15 years of partnership and strengthens OhioHealth’s commitment to Athens and southeastern Ohio.

ATHENS, Ohio – Through its partnership with Ohio Athletics, Learfield's Ohio Sports Properties announced the expansion of its agreement, establishing OhioHealth as the Official Healthcare Provider of Ohio Athletics.

"We are excited to extend our alliance with OhioHealth as a transformational partner in supporting our 450 student-athletes," Director of Athletics Slade Larscheid said. "This agreement aligns first-class healthcare and sports medicine to all 16 sports – the health and wellness of our teams is paramount. Special thank you to LeeAnn Lucas-Helber and Jess Hennessy for their collaboration and partnership with OhioHealth."

The multi-year agreement strengthens a longstanding relationship, while upholding OhioHealth's role as a foundational partner of Ohio Athletics with a shared commitment to furthering student-athlete wellness, health and community impact.

"For nearly 15 years, OhioHealth has been proud to partner with Ohio University Athletics, supporting student-athletes with the clinical expertise and care they need to compete at their highest level," LeeAnn Lucas-Helber, President, OhioHealth O'Bleness Hospital said. "As we take this relationship into its next chapter, as the Official Healthcare Provider of Ohio Athletics, we're building on a much broader commitment to Ohio University, Athens County and communities across southeastern Ohio."

The partnership will emphasize OhioHealth's connection and educational initiatives with Ohio Athletics and Ohio University, continuing the strong investment in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Professions and branding signage across Ohio Athletics' facilities.

"We are incredibly grateful for OhioHealth's continued support of Ohio Athletics and for the trust they place in our Ohio Sports Properties team to steward the partnership," General Manager of Ohio Sports Properties Matt Molde said. "We're excited about what we can accomplish together over the next five years and beyond."

Ohio Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Ohio Athletics and manages all sponsorships, in-venue signage and advertising on behalf of the university.

Looking forward, Ohio Athletics, Ohio Sports Properties and OhioHealth will continue working together by connecting OhioHealth's broader commitment to the University community with its leadership and presence of OhioHealth O'Bleness in Athens.

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.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness and fan engagement for brands, sports and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

#OUohyeah

• OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital was named a 2026 Birnbaum Quality Leadership Top Performer by Vizient.
• The ranking measures six areas of care, including safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness and variation in care.
• Van Wert Hospital was one of 24 hospitals in the Small Community Hospital cohort recognized for excellence in quality.

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has been recognized as a top performer in the 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient®. Van Wert Hospital was one of 24 Vizient provider clients in the Small Community Hospital cohort recognized for demonstrating excellence in delivering high-quality care based on the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study.

“We’re proud to see the dedication of our teams recognized in this way,” said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Their commitment to providing safe, high-quality care makes a difference for our patients and our community every day.”

This year, 1,346 participating hospitals were segmented into seven cohorts for the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study. The study measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness and variation in care. The study factors in measures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and includes performance data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.

The Vizient Quality and Accountability Study helps participating hospitals and health systems understand their performance against their peers and identifies structures and processes associated with high performance in quality and safety across a broad spectrum of patient care activity. The recognition period is for work spanning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

“Delivering consistently high-quality care requires organizations to align clinical expertise, operational discipline and a continuous focus on improvement,” said David Levine, MD, chief medical officer, Vizient. “The hospitals recognized this year demonstrate what is possible when that commitment is embedded across the organization, resulting in better performance and, most importantly, better care for patients.”

To view the full list of 2026 Top Performers, click here.

• OhioHealth Van Wert's Teddy Bear Clinic helps children become more comfortable with healthcare through hands-on activities.
• Kids explore stations including vitals, lab, X-ray, vaccines, casting, exercise, hand hygiene and nutrition.
• The event gives children a chance to meet healthcare professionals and learn what to expect if they need care.

A trip to the doctor or hospital can feel unfamiliar or even scary for children. OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital is helping make those experiences more comfortable by giving kids the chance to practice caring for a little patient of their own.

At the hospital’s Teddy Bear Clinic, children bring their favorite stuffed animals and guide them through a series of healthcare stations.

This year’s Clinic was held Tuesday, Sept. 22. The free event gave kids an opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals and equipment while learning what happens during different types of care.

Stations included vitals, lab, X-ray, vaccines, casting, exercise, hand hygiene and nutrition. At each stop, children took part in age-appropriate activities designed to make healthcare more approachable and engaging.

For parent, Aaron Caskey, the Teddy Bear Clinic is a familiar experience for his family.

“It was neat. We’ve done it a couple years ago with the other kids,” he said. “And so now we brought the little one. It’s a good experience for them, really helpful for the little kids.”

Abigail Stump, whose nieces and nephews attended, also appreciated the opportunity to introduce them to the hospital in a setting centered on learning and fun.

“It was just a nice little, informative thing to get them a little bit used to coming to the hospital if they ever have to,” Stump said. “It’s more of the fun side. It gets them ready for when it’s more serious and they actually have to have their blood drawn or anything like that.”

Madi Korte, financial analyst at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, helps organize the event.

“It’s an experience for the children, in the perspective of their stuffed animal,” she said. “Everybody’s going to come to the doctor at one point, and it’s just making the children familiar with the space. It doesn’t always have to be scary.”

• OhioHealth earned Clean Harbors’ Best-in-Class Designation for exceptional hazardous waste management and is currently the only healthcare organization in North America to hold the title.
• The designation required six consecutive, in-depth audits with scores of 95% or higher, covering training, documentation, waste practices, emergency preparedness, compliance processes and an on-site walkthrough.
• Over the past two years, OhioHealth’s Environmental Health and Safety team has strengthened and standardized hazardous, non-hazardous, pharmaceutical and universal waste programs to support regulatory compliance.
• OhioHealth is preparing for a six-month follow-up audit while expanding its focus on universal waste, e-waste, recycling and other sustainability initiatives. 

OhioHealth has earned a Best-in-Class Designation through Clean Harbors, recognizing the OhioHealth Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team’s work in hazardous waste management.

The designation honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional performance in hazardous waste management. OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital was selected as the audit site because it is OhioHealth’s only large quantity generator, providing auditors with an opportunity to evaluate the system’s hazardous waste management processes and standards as part of the certification review.

Clean Harbors, OhioHealth’s contracted hazardous waste management vendor, partnered with the organization throughout the certification process. Over the past two years, the EHS team has developed and enhanced programs for hazardous, non-hazardous, pharmaceutical, and universal waste, establishing consistent standards and processes that support regulatory compliance across OhioHealth. Mike Davison, Senior Environmental Health and Safety Consultant, supports these efforts through environmental compliance and hazardous waste management activities across the system.

“We are honored to receive this recognition, which reflects the commitment and collaboration of many departments across OhioHealth,” Davison said. “We are currently the only healthcare organization in North America that hold this title from Clean Harbors.”

To receive the award, OhioHealth had to pass six consecutive, in-depth audits with scores of 95% or higher, Davison explained. The audits go beyond typical EPA, compliance and regulatory requirements. “It’s basically doing all of that plus best management practices on top of a couple of items that they see.”

The audits assess OhioHealth’s Hazardous Waste Management Program, reviewing training, documentation, waste management practices, emergency preparedness, and compliance processes. Auditors also conduct a facility walkthrough to verify that required protocols are in place and operating effectively.

“Every square inch of this program they go over, so to achieve the 95% or higher is absolutely remarkable,” Davison said. “The grading is very strict with minimal room for error, so there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to achieve this metric.”

“This recognition reflects OhioHealth’s commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence,” said Lindsey O’Keefe, Manager of Environmental Health and Safety. “Mike and our partners at Clean Harbors have played a critical role in strengthening and standardizing our waste management programs. Through a shared focus on continuous improvement, including support from a dedicated Clean Harbors auditor on our team, we have enhanced compliance, improved performance, and established consistent standards across the health system.”

The designation reflects a commitment to continuous improvement, not a one-time achievement. Clean Harbors will return in December for a six-month follow-up assessment, and OhioHealth has already begun preparing to maintain the designation while continuing to strengthen the system-wide standards that support safe, compliant, and responsible waste management practices.

“After we pass that audit, the process moves to an annual review, but Clean Harbors can conduct an audit at any time,” Davison said. “That’s why we stay ready every day.”

Davison said the safe management of hazardous waste is a critical responsibility across OhioHealth. Working closely with Clean Harbors, the EHS team has developed robust processes and controls to ensure hazardous materials are handled responsibly and in compliance with environmental regulations.

“For the community, patients and associates, knowing that we are handling these materials safely, following every rule set by our regulatory bodies and exceeding the standards can provide peace of mind,” Davison said. “It shows we are working to make the workplace, the hospital and the organization better and more compliant, with the resources from OhioHealth to support that work.”

This work extends beyond Riverside Methodist to all 16 OhioHealth hospitals, freestanding emergency departments and OhioHealth Physician Group locations. The EHS team is leveraging the improvements implemented at Riverside Methodist, along with lessons learned through the audit process, to support the adoption of consistent system-wide standards across all OhioHealth locations.

“There’s a lot of things that aren’t required for a site that’s registered as a very small quantity generator or small quantity generator, but every location is held to consistent system-wide standards for hazardous waste management. Regardless of size, every site is expected to meet the same expectations for training, documentation, storage, and handling,” Davison said.

The EHS team’s work extends beyond hazardous waste management and includes collaboration with OhioHealth’s sustainability team on broader environmental sustainability initiatives across the health system.

“Sustainability is an important part of how we care for our communities today and into the future,” Terri Scannell, OhioHealth principal advisor of sustainability said. “By partnering with the Environmental Health and Safety team, we can build on this work and find new ways to reduce waste, improve recycling efforts and strengthen practices that support the health of our patients, associates and the environment.”

“We’ve made significant progress in strengthening OhioHealth’s hazardous waste management program, and our focus is now shifting toward opportunities to enhance our universal waste and e-waste programs,” Davison said. “As those efforts evolve, we look forward to partnering with the sustainability team to identify solutions that support OhioHealth’s long-term goals.”

Through these efforts, OhioHealth continues to advance a culture of safety, sustainability, and accountability, ensuring consistent practices that benefit patients, associates, and communities across the system.

• The Emergency Department at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital has earned Pediatric Ready Facility Recognition from the Ohio Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership Program.
• The recognition reflects pediatric-focused preparation involving policies, equipment, staff training, patient-safety practices, disaster planning and continuous quality improvement.
• Pediatric Ready recognition is valid for three years and represents an ongoing commitment to maintaining readiness for children who need emergency care.

The emergency department at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital has been recognized as a Pediatric Ready Facility by the Ohio Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership Program, also known as Ohio EMSC. The recognition reflects the hospital’s alignment with national pediatric emergency care standards and its commitment to providing timely, safe and appropriate care for children and families. Riverside Methodist officially received the recognition in July 2026.

Children have distinct medical and emotional needs during an emergency. Being Pediatric Ready means an emergency department has prepared in advance with pediatric-focused policies and procedures, appropriately sized equipment and supplies, staff training and competencies specific to children, patient-safety practices, disaster plans that address pediatric needs and ongoing quality-improvement efforts.

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire emergency department team and the intentional work that goes into being ready for children,” said Cyndole Messer, BSN, RN, ED Clinical Nurse Manager, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. “Our physicians, nurses and support teams worked together to strengthen our pediatric processes, participate in simulations and evaluate how we respond to the unique needs of children and their families. Pediatric Readiness is something we will continue to build upon every day.”

“Providing high-quality emergency care for children requires preparation long before a child arrives in the emergency department,” said Brad Raetzke, MD, Assistant Medical Director, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital Emergency Department. “This recognition reflects our commitment to maintaining the training, resources and clinical expertise needed to care for pediatric patients safely and effectively whenever they need us.”

Achieving Pediatric Ready Recognition is the result of coordinated work among emergency physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, support staff and Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators. Eligible hospitals participate voluntarily by submitting required materials, completing a structured review and taking part in an onsite or virtual verification visit. Ohio EMSC provides guidance and technical assistance throughout the process.

Most children who require emergency treatment receive that care in community hospital emergency departments. Pediatric Readiness standards are intended to help those departments maintain the people, processes and equipment needed to care for children safely and effectively.

“Families should feel confident that when they come to Riverside during an emergency, our teams have taken purposeful steps to prepare for pediatric patients,” said Rob Cercek, president, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. “This recognition speaks to our associates’ commitment to safety, teamwork and continuous improvement. It also reinforces our responsibility to provide children and families with compassionate care during moments when they need us most.”

The standards supporting the recognition draw on national initiatives, including the National Pediatric Readiness Project and the Joint Policy Statement on Pediatric Readiness in the emergency department. They address pediatric-specific policies, appropriately sized supplies and equipment, staff competencies, patient safety, disaster preparedness and quality-improvement processes.

Pediatric Ready Recognition remains valid for three years. During that period, Riverside Methodist will continue its focus on pediatric training, evaluation, equipment, policies and quality improvement.

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, faith-based health system serving patients across Ohio through hospitals, physician practices, ambulatory locations and other health services. Guided by its mission to improve the health of those it serves, OhioHealth provides compassionate care while supporting medical innovation, education and community health.

About Ohio EMSC and Pediatric Readiness

Ohio EMSC is Ohio’s Emergency Medical Services for Children state partnership program. It advances Pediatric Readiness among hospitals and EMS agencies through education, technical assistance, resources and statewide coordination involving pediatric emergency care standards. The program is supported by a federal EMSC grant and is housed administratively at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

The program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau Emergency Medical Services for Children grant number H33MC48997, with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

• 23 Marion-area agencies including OhioHealth Marion General Hospital gathered for the first Mental Health, Addiction and Developmental Disabilities Summit.
• Community leaders are working together to improve coordination and access to mental health, addiction and developmental disability services.
• The summit is the start of an ongoing collaboration, with additional meetings planned to identify solutions and share them with the community.

A broad cross section of Marion area community healthcare, education and governmental agencies gathered at The Ohio State University at Marion’s Guthery Community Room in Maynard Hall, Wednesday, Sept. 9, for the first in a series of discussions to take place over the coming months as part of the area’s first Mental Health, Addiction and Developmental Disabilities Summit.

The event was presented in collaboration with community partners, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, The Ohio State University at Marion, Marion Community Foundation, Marion County Courts, ADAMH and the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities. According to Marion General Hospital President, Jim Parobek, twenty-three different agencies attended the first meeting of the summit.

“We have a big crisis in mental health in the community,” said Parobek. “Not just here, but it's nationwide. We have a lot of agencies that are working hard, but I don't think we're working as closely together as we can. Because resources are so scarce, I wanted to try to get all the agencies together, so we can lean on each other and use our services better. If we can gain some efficiencies, we can spread the resources around better.”

Parobek explained, the first meeting of the summit was about getting the agencies together to talk about issues and get feedback from all the agencies involved, looking first at mental health, developmental disabilities and addiction challenges for just adults as a first step. Summit organizers plan to take the information from an agency questionnaire and meet again on Oct. 7 to share results and solutions to potential open-ended problems that still need solved, with the goal of presenting those solutions to the community on Oct. 20 at Marion First Church of the Nazarene.

The group hopes to present collaborative solutions to the community, said Parobek. “Here's how we're going to work better together,” he said. “Here's how they can get information to better care for those who are navigating mental health issues, addiction or developmental disabilities.”

Ohio State Marion Dean & Director, Dr. Jennifer Schlueter shared the importance of what the campus brings to the region in terms of preparing students for careers in counseling, mental health, addiction services and developmental disabilities. “First and foremost, the academic pipeline. We offer psychology, social work, sociology and criminology, and education right here in Marion,” Dr. Schlueter said.

She also emphasized the importance of involving Ohio State Marion students as active participants in the summit. “Several of our students served as scribes and observers, but because the people in that room know things our students need to learn, and the fastest way to learn them is to sit still and listen to professionals do their work.”

Schlueter noted that the summit marks the beginning of sustained collaboration. “This is the first of three gatherings, probably more. What we’re hosting isn’t an event. It’s the start of a working relationship among agencies that serve the same people and don’t always have a table to sit at together,” she said.

Dr. Schlueter described partnerships like the summit as essential to Ohio State Marion’s identity and responsibility. “Because a campus that only serves the people who walk onto it isn’t doing the job a land‑grant university signed up for,” she said.

According to President and CEO of the Marion Community Foundation, Julie Prettyman, the issue of behavioral health and addiction is essential to work on for our community.

“Marion is really collaborating around that issue. The Community Foundation is thrilled to be a part, to be one of the partners that is looking for and working towards solutions,” said Prettyman.

“It’s not going be just the foundation that does that,” she added. “It's going to be numerous agencies that come together and work towards the betterment of our community.”

When looking at the overarching message that came out of meeting one, Prettyman felt it was specifically the act of so many agencies sharing and collaborating toward a common goal.

“Today was really wonderful,” she said. “We got to hear from the agencies, the organizations that meet the needs of individuals in our community. It wasn't one nugget that I heard. It was the opportunity to hear from the people, the businesses, the organizations that are out there working with individuals who are in crisis, who need those mental health services.”

Organizers all echoed the same sentiment, that the best thing to come out of the opening round of the Mental Health, Addiction and Developmental Disabilities Summit at Ohio State Marion was the ability to collaborate and share, with the opportunity to continue this discussion in the future and with the community at large.

• An intrathecal pain pump gave Marcia Alvarez immediate relief after years of debilitating arthritis-related back pain.
• The implanted device delivers targeted medication through a catheter to nerve endings near the spine.
• Alvarez’s morphine dose decreased dramatically, from 40 mg to one-tenth of a milligram, reducing concerns about opioid dependence.
• The procedure typically takes one to two hours, allows patients to return home the same day and may help eligible patients regain their quality of life.

Marcia Alvarez is no stranger to pain.

She developed arthritis in her spine 20 years ago. After building up an immunity to morphine, she took disability from her job. It was at that point she decided to quit taking her medication to avoid addiction, and stayed home in debilitating pain.  

“Every step I took felt like somebody had taken a sword and shoved it through my hip down my leg," Alvarez told Mansfield News Journal.

Nearly six years later, she learned of a treatment option for her pain that could change her life. Intrathecal pain pumps deliver a small dose of pain medicine to the nerve endings near the spine. According to Carter Battista, DO, a pain management specialist at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, pain pumps have become popular among patients who want targeted relief.

The pumps are implanted under the patient’s skin, where the medication is refilled every three months. A catheter carries the medicine to nerve endings near the spine.

"The pump itself is good for seven years," Battista said. "The catheter will hopefully stay in for the lifetime."

“Helps patients get off opioids”

A huge benefit to the intrathecal pain pumps is the low doses of medication that achieve relief.

"We're able to program the pump to each patient," Battista said. "We set it at a rate, a low rate, and then we can increase that rate over time if the patient needs higher doses or they're not getting pain relief."

The limited doses of medication were important for Alvarez.

"I wanted relief, but not at the cost of risking addiction to something," she said.

Alvarez’s new morphine dose dropped from 40 mg to only one-tenth of a milligram.

"It really helps patients get off opioids," Battista said. "Everyone develops a tolerance and a lot of times become dependent on them."

“It was immediate relief”

Alvarez says her pain disappeared the moment doctors turned the Medtronic pain pump under her skin on.

"It was immediate relief," she said. "There was no increasing the dose or 'Maybe it'll get better in a few days.' It was instantly."

Alvarez is back to living her life and keeping up with grandchildren. She encourages others experiencing debilitating back pain to look into pain pump treatment options, too.

“It’s only about an hour or two for the procedure,” Battista said. “They go home the same day.”

Anyone who has chronic pain is a potential candidate for the devices. Patients are encouraged to ask their doctor if a pump would be the right fit for them.

“I didn’t expect that in a million years. It was just utter shock,” Ewers says, with Dyer telling NBC News, “I was shaking. I was nervous and excited, and I just could not wait to see her.”

Dyer serves in the U.S. Air Force and is stationed seven hours away at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. After learning about her grandma’s cancer returning, Dyer made arrangements with her supervisor to make it for her final appointment. The moment was captured on video as OhioHealth nurses and staff cheered them on.

“Just to know that a young person would care that much and put in that kind of an effort to come and see their grandma, I felt very loved and very special that day,” Ewers told NBC News. 

This is not the first time Ewers has battled breast cancer. She was first diagnosed in 2012, but went into remission after radiation. When she learned the cancer had returned in 2025, she began her second treatment journey. After fighting for the second time, she was not only able to celebrate by ringing the bell, but also experienced an unforgettable surprise from her granddaughter. 

The video was posted on TikTok and gained more than 46,000 views and thousands of heartfelt comments. The emotional moment resonated with viewers, connecting those who have shared similar experiences with loved ones battling cancer. For Dyer, the response was a reminder that even through difficult experiences, people can support each other from all over the world.

“The comments definitely made the video special because you got to see how everyone’s going through something,” Dyer said. “We can just support each other.”

A thumb implant, used more than 130,000 times in Europe, is now being performed in the United States after receiving FDA approval last year. Dr. Berling was among a select group of surgeons trained to perform the procedure and one of only a few from Ohio. In May, he was the first surgeon in Ohio to implant the TOUCH CMC 1 Prosthesis.

“If this continues to have the trajectory that it does, this will be the standard of care for thumb replacement surgery, not the way we’ve been doing it for the last 50 years which I think could be a dramatic paradigm shift in hand surgery that is going to be great for the entire system and city far and wide,” Dr. Berling said.

The first U.S. implant was performed in Aurora, Illinois. Training later expanded from a small group of surgeons in Europe to a group of U.S. surgeons in Las Vegas, where Dr. Berling was trained alongside surgeons from Cincinnati and Cleveland.

“It is a two day excursion where training surgeons get to meet with the design team and practicing surgeons to go over every aspect of the implants and the thought process behind them,” Dr. Berling said.

Dr. Berling and the other surgeons in training then met with two French surgeons who had been performing the procedure for nearly 10 years. The Swiss-designed CMC Touch 1 prosthesis was developed and manufactured by KeriMedical and distributed by Medartis Inc in the US.

“It’s one thing to watch a video of it, but it’s another thing to talk and sit with someone as they’re performing the surgery, and then you sit down with the cadaver and do as many as it takes to feel comfortable doing the implants,” Dr. Berling said.

The implant does not require any anatomy changes. Surgeons use the same approach they are already familiar with; the difference is in the mechanics of the instrumentation.

Dr. Berling describes the implant as a mini hip replacement for the thumb and performs the surgery at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital.

“The mechanics of it are a ball and socket joint to replace the saddle joint that is your thumb,” Dr. Berling said.

Traditional thumb reconstruction is used when bone-on-bone arthritis occurs where the thumb meets the wrist. The procedure involves removing the trapezium bone and then resuspending the thumb. “Essentially, you’re using your own tendonor suture anchors to then reconnect your thumb back to your index finger so that your thumb its normal motion.”   

One downside of traditional procedures is that the thumb may take time to function properly without the bone, which can lead to a lengthy recovery of six to nine months.  Patients after traditional thumb arthritis surgeries are in a splint or cast for 6 weeks, while patients who receive the TOUCH prosthesis are leaving the operating room with just an ACE bandage.

“I tell people it could take in the neighborhood of six to nine months for your thumb to feel like your thumb again,” Dr. Berling said. “You’re retraining muscles to compensate for the fact that your bone is not there, and you’re trying to use the same motion to get the same pinch.”  

With this new implant, the bone is not removed, which provides immediate stability and helps accelerate recovery. The outpatient surgery takes about 45 minutes, allows patients to go home the same day and can be performed under twilight, nerve block or general anesthesia. Stitches stay in for two weeks, and once they are removed, patients can shower and get their hand wet.

“People are coming in at two weeks or three weeks after surgery with the same motion that I would previously expect at four to six months, with almost no pain whatsoever,” Dr. Berling said. Dr. Berling recommends that patients avoid heavy lifting for six to eight weeks, but they can resume normal daily activities.

“One of Dr. Berling’s patients, Julia Brown, told NBC4, ‘It’s remarkable when you can wake up and be pain-free in a certain part of your body where you have pain in other parts. That just gives you a lot of hope.’”

The implant also helps restore pinch and grip strength while maintaining the length of the thumb without removing the bone.

To qualify for the implant, patients with thumb arthritis typically must first fail conservative treatments. The implant does not replace options such as bracing, therapy and injections, which can provide lasting relief and often help patients avoid surgery.

Like any joint replacement, the implant can wear out over time, but Dr. Berling expects for most patients that this implant will last the rest of their life. Patients whose jobs place heavy manual demands on their hands may not be ideal candidates. However, people who are active, use their hands and thumbs regularly, work out or bike or play pickleball can still be good candidates, and those activities are not expected to cause the implant to wear out quickly.

As technology and health care continue to evolve, OhioHealth and its experts remain focused on finding new ways to improve patient care. “We’re never satisfied with how things are going, there’s always room for improvement,” Dr. Berling said.

Dr. Berling explained that thumb surgeries have been done the same way for 60 years, but newer approaches may help improve outcomes using methods that have already been proven effective.

“This new generation of thumb implants are working because we have been able to use the same technology that has improved knee and hip replacements and translate them to the thumb,” Dr. Berling said.

To view the NBC4 story, click here.

Aurora was diagnosed with meningitis after her spinal fluid tested positive for E. Coli. Doctors at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital and Nationwide Children’s Hospital were concerned that the infection would spread to her brain and potentially become fatal. She needed treatment as quickly as possible.

“Menigitis for a newborn is very life-threatening when not treated quickly,” Emily Thomas, Aurora’s mom, told Spectrum News. “We were getting updates probably every 30 minutes after we found out she had a fever because a fever in a newborn is not normal. That was very concerning.”

During Aurora’s 23 days of treatment, she was cared for by a special team of physicians, including husband-and-wife doctors, Martin Hanawalt, MD, medical director of the pediatric hospitalist program at OhioHealth, and Jana Erner, MD, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. With care from both teams, Aurora stabilized quickly and made a full recovery.

One year after Aurora’s recovery, her family reunited with the doctors that saved her life.

“It’s been so cool because it’s nice to see them outside of the environment that we saw them in for so long. Both Dr. Hanawalt and Dr. Erner. It’s nice to connect with them on a personal level,” Morgan Thomas, Aurora’s dad, told Spectrum News.

Aurora’s treatment not only affected her and her family,but also left a long-lasting impression on the doctors who cared for her. Even after more than 30 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Hanawalt shared that seeing Aurora happy and healthy is one of the most rewarding parts of his work.

“It’s great seeing a child that’s done very well and is thriving and doing fantastic; it just does my heart good,” Dr. Hanawalt told Spectrum News.

The family still sends the doctors updates and photos to let them know how Aurora is doing. For her family, sharing those updates is important because it gives the physicians an opportunity to see the lasting impact their care has on patients and families.

• OhioHealth experts emphasize that many child firearm injuries are preventable through safe storage practices, including keeping firearms locked and ammunition stored separately.
• Creating multiple layers of protection, including secure storage and ongoing firearm safety conversations with children, can significantly reduce the risk of accidental shootings.
• Firearm incidents can leave lasting emotional and psychological effects on children, making prevention critical for both physical and mental well-being.

A recent accidental shooting of a young girl in Columbus, Ohio, is bringing renewed attention to firearm safety around children. While many incidents can happen in seconds, there are many preventive steps that can be taken to avoid injuries.

"In trauma care, it's probably the hardest thing when you're treating injuries that are ones that could have been completely prevented," Dr. Keshav Deshpande, a trauma surgeon at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, told NBC4.

Firearm injuries can be especially serious for children because the energy carried by a bullet can have a greater impact on smaller bodies.

Unsecured firearms can also cause harm beyond physical wounds. "That emotional trauma of an injured child can last a lifetime. It carries with them into being an adult. You can see things in children, like nightmares, anxiety, even, like, regression, like bedwetting, and for the ones that are not even involved in getting hurt, just that survivor's guilt can play a big role if there's multiple kids in the area," Deshpande said.

Creating multiple layers of protection around firearms is critical for parents/guardians at home.

Firearms should be locked in a place where children cannot access them, and ammunition should be placed in a secure location separate from the firearm. It is also important to have conversations about never touching or playing with a gun and reporting any encounter with one to a trusted adult.

Deshpande describes this approach as "triple prevention," emphasizing the importance of creating several barriers between children and firearms. Taking these extra steps can reduce the likelihood of a child gaining access to a firearm and help prevent serious injuries.

OhioHealth also continues to support "Agree to Agree," an Ad Council initiative that brings together healthcare, business and community leaders around the shared goal of preventing youth gun violence. The campaign focuses on finding common ground and providing practical steps families can take to protect children and teens from firearm injuries and death.

As part of the initiative, OhioHealth is helping bring safety education and prevention efforts to surrounding communities. By encouraging safe storage, open conversations and multiple layers of protection, Agree to Agree aims to give families tools to prevent firearm injuries before they happen.

For more information on the "Agree to Agree" effort and to access resources such as conversation guides and shareable graphics that educate and empower audiences to take individual steps to protect communities and children, visit AgreeToAgree.org

• The Fishel Foundation has committed $1.5 million to support the OhioHealth Women’s Health Navigation Hub.
• The hub will provide dedicated care coordination to help women and their families better understand care options, connect with clinicians and access resources.
• The navigation hub will be part of the new OhioHealth Women’s Center, expected to open in 2027 at Riverside Methodist Hospital.
• OhioHealth says the program reflects its commitment to compassionate, individualized and coordinated care for women at every stage of life.

OhioHealth is grateful to announce a $1.5 million gift from the Fishel Foundation. This generous commitment will support the development of the OhioHealth Women's Health Navigation Hub, a dedicated care coordination service set to launch at the OhioHealth Women's Center. The navigation hub will serve as a central point of support for patients, helping women and their families more easily understand care options, connect with the right caregivers and clinicians, and access vital women’s health resources throughout their experience at the Women’s Center.

By integrating dedicated navigators into the daily operations of the new Women’s Center, the program is designed to provide individualized, high-touch support during every step of a woman’s care journey. The generous gift from the Fishel Foundation will help bring this vision to life, ensuring the expanded services offered through the Women’s Center continue to reflect OhioHealth’s commitment to excellence, compassion and coordinated care.

The OhioHealth Women's Center is set to open in 2027 on the southeast corner of the OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital campus. The standalone center will become one of the leading facilities of its type in the country and is designed to meet the complex and changing healthcare needs of women throughout the different stages of life.

"This gift will be key to our efforts to help to transform the way care is coordinated and delivered to women and their families across the communities OhioHealth serves," said Jason Melillo, MD, senior vice president of service lines for OhioHealth. "Navigating a health journey can be overwhelming, and we want to help ensure no woman has to figure it out alone."

Care navigation has become an increasingly important part of the patient experience, especially for women who often manage not only their own health, but the health of their families. By pairing patients with a dedicated navigator, the hub aims to remove common barriers to care, from scheduling confusion to a lack of clarity around next steps or specialists.

"We are deeply grateful for the Fishel Foundation's generosity and for a donor whose personal experience has inspired such a meaningful investment in women's health," said Karen Morrison, president, OhioHealth Foundation and senior vice president, OhioHealth. "This commitment reflects exactly the kind of individualized, compassionate care we envision for every woman who walks through our doors.”

The OhioHealth Women's Health Navigation Hub represents one of several innovative features planned for the Women's Center, which will bring together a wide range of services designed around the needs of women and their families.  

If you would like to support exceptional care in women’s health, please click here

• A new Safe Haven Baby Box is now available at BKP Ambulance District in Kenton, offering parents in crisis a safe and anonymous option to surrender a newborn.
• OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital provided funding for the box, partnering with BKP Ambulance District and Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
• The climate-controlled box alerts first responders when a newborn is placed inside, who can retrieve the baby within minutes for evaluation at Hardin Memorial.

A new Safe Haven Baby Box is now available in Kenton, providing parents experiencing a crisis with a safe and anonymous option to surrender a newborn.

The community gathered Tuesday, Sept. 15, at BKP Ambulance District to celebrate the installation and blessing of the new box. Community members and first responders attended the ceremony, which included remarks from Kenton Mayor Lynn Webb and City Council President Joel Althauser. Pastor Eric Risner of Abundant Life Assembly of God Church offered a blessing prayer for the box and the families it may serve.

OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital provided funding to bring the box to the community, working with BKP Ambulance District and Safe Haven Baby Boxes to make the resource available.

“Mothers have a nice anonymous, safe surrender,” said Shelly Prater with BKP Ambulance District. “We've always had a safe haven law so they could walk into any fire department or hospital and hand the baby over, but there's no anonymity when it comes to that.”

The box is installed on the exterior of the BKP facility, allowing a parent to surrender a newborn who is 30 days old or younger without entering the building or speaking directly with another person. Its climate-controlled chamber remains at 70 degrees year-round, and an alarm immediately alerts BKP first responders. Prater said staff can retrieve the baby within five minutes, after which the infant will be taken to Hardin Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

For Hardin Memorial, the project extends its commitment to supporting the community beyond the hospital and working alongside local emergency services.

“Contributing to this effort illustrates that it's a partnership with everyone in the community,” said Charity Coffman, director of nursing at Hardin Memorial. “Our commitment to care reaches beyond the walls of the hospital. It's connecting with the community.”

Coffman said the partnership will continue beyond the installation of the box, with associates already discussing future opportunities to support the effort. Ongoing operations of Safe Haven Baby Boxes are funded through donations.

“It's a shared vision,” she said. “And I think it's a wonderful illustration of all the values that we support, a safe haven for the little ones who don't have a place.”

The box is the 29th Safe Haven Baby Box in Ohio and the 471st in the nation.

“We have a lot of mothers in crisis,” said Prater. “Any kind of option that's going to help someone, that's why I do what I do.”

The Kenton Safe Haven Baby Box is located at BKP Ambulance District, 439 S. Main St., Kenton.

“This is important in every community,” said Mariah Betz, assistant project coordinator for Safe Haven. “You just never know when a crisis is going to strike. So the more the boxes that we have available, the better we are.”

• A free Community Health Resource Fair will be held Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at All in a Day Childcare in Columbus.
• Attendees can access WIC sign-ups, health screenings, food assistance, baby safety supplies and more.
• The family-friendly event will also feature food trucks, gaming trucks and activities.

Community members are invited to a free Community Health Resource Fair on Saturday, Sept. 26, offering families and individuals the opportunity to connect with local organizations and access health and community resources.

The event hosted by OhioHealth SARNCO (Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio) will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at All in a Day Childcare, 4420 Refugee Rd, Columbus.

The resource fair will bring together local organizations offering a wide range of free resources and services, including food assistance, WIC sign-ups, blood pressure screenings, car seats and baby safety supplies, food and hygiene packs and information about local health and human services.

Other participating organizations and services include:

• OhioHealth Wellness on Wheels
• NSI Food Pantry
• CelebrateOne
• Here to Serve
• A Step in the Right Direction
• Columbus Public Health
• Franklin County Health and Human Services
• COTA
• CareSource

The event will also feature gaming trucks, food trucks, and family-friendly activities throughout the day.

“Resource fairs like this are important because they give people the opportunity to connect with resources and community partners all in one place,” said Deandre Criddell, program coordinator, OhioHealth SARNCO. “You never know what someone may be looking for or what support they may need, so we want to make it easy for people to come, ask questions, make connections, and leave knowing there are people and organizations in their community who are here to support them.”

For questions or to learn more about the event, contact Deandre Criddell at (614) 788-4707.

• OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital is donating 2.82 acres to the Van Wert County Foundation for future improvements at Hiestand Woods Park.
• Planned improvements include expanded parking, restrooms and additional park programming, while preserving existing woods and trees.
• Initial improvements are expected over the next 18 to 24 months.

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital is donating 2.82 acres of land adjacent to the hospital to the Van Wert County Foundation to support future improvements at Hiestand Woods Park.

The donated property is located along the west side of Hiestand Woods and will provide additional space to support the development of park amenities while preserving the existing woods and trees.

Planned improvements include expanded parking, restroom facilities and additional opportunities for park programming. The project also will support connections to existing trails, the reservoir area and other community features.

“OhioHealth’s donation of land is the catalyst for a significant investment in the future of Hiestand Woods,” said Seth Baker, CEO of the Van Wert County Foundation. “It allows us to move from a long-held vision to a truly transformational project. Over the next year and a half, we will be coordinating several grants and major private donations to see that work through to completion. We are grateful to OhioHealth for helping unlock what will be a lasting investment in one of our community’s most important public spaces.”

The planned improvements reflect years of feedback from residents and are designed to enhance the park’s amenities while making it more accessible and enjoyable for visitors.

“We believe healthcare extends beyond the walls of our hospitals,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Spaces like Hiestand Woods give people opportunities to be active and connect with their families and community. We’re proud to contribute to a project that will create more ways for people in Van Wert County to support their health and well-being.”

Initial improvements to Hiestand Woods Park are expected to take place over the next 18 to 24 months as plans for the project continue to develop.

About The Van Wert County Foundation

The Van Wert County Foundation is creating a well-resourced and thriving quality of life for Van Wert County by inspiring, fulfilling, and supporting philanthropy. For more information, visit vanwertcountyfoundation.org or call 419-238-1743.

• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital was recognized for energy reduction efforts, highlighting its commitment to sustainability in healthcare operations.
• The recognition is tied to ASHE’s Energy to Care program, which supports healthcare facilities in setting and achieving energy-saving goals.
• OhioHealth continues to emphasize community-focused, responsible healthcare, supported by its broader network of hospitals, ambulatory sites and associates across Ohio.

OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital is pleased to announce that it has received the prestigious Energy to Care^® Sustainability Champions Award and Sustained Performance Award from the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association.

Energy to Care is ASHE’s award-winning program dedicated to helping healthcare facilities track their energy, water and emissions reduction efforts and celebrates hospitals and health systems that go above and beyond in achieving their environmental impact reduction goals. The Sustainability Champions Award is the Energy to Care Program’s highest distinction. Mansfield Hospital is one of just 70 facilities, from a total of 13 health systems, to earn the Sustainability Champions Award in 2026, representing only 1.4% of the total facilities participating in the Energy to Care program. In addition to tracking energy, water and greenhouse emissions, winning facilities must maintain an ENERGY STAR^® score of 75 above, report a published sustainability statement and have dedicated sustainability personnel on staff.

“By earning this award, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to reducing healthcare’s environmental footprint,” says Austin Wallace, MA, sustainability senior specialist at ASHE. “This achievement distinguishes Mansfield Hospital as an example among healthcare facilities working to build healthier communities and I commend the Mansfield Hospital team for their exceptional energy and emissions reduction efforts.”

The Sustained Performance Award recognizes past Energy to Care Award winners that have continued to see progress in these efforts by further reducing or maintaining reduced emissions. Mansfield Hospital is one of 328 facilities to earn the Sustained Performance Award in 2026, representing just 6.6% of the total facilities participating in the program.

Supporting practices at Mansfield Hospital that led to this award include:

·         Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning optimization

·         Control sequence enhancements

·         Scheduling adjustments

Participation in the Energy to Care Program has seen consistent growth since its inception in 2006. More than 4,900 facilities have participated over the past two decades, and in the entire life of the program, healthcare facilities have seen a combined savings of over $550 million dollars reallocated to patient care.

To learn more about the Energy to Care Program and view a complete list of 2026 award winners, visit energytocare.org/EnergyAwards.

• OhioHealth Berger Hospital's intensive care unit earned a Bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
• The national recognition highlights exceptional patient outcomes, nursing excellence and a healthy work environment.
• The award reflects the ICU team's commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care and collaboration.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has conferred a Bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the ICU at OhioHealth Berger Hospital. This prestigious recognition is notable - more than 575 units nationwide applied for the award last year.

The Beacon Award for Excellence celebrates unit caregivers who achieve exceptional patient outcomes while fostering a healthy work environment. Units that earn the award meet AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards, demonstrating a systematic, evidence-based approach to patient care and nursing excellence. This year, four units applied for recognition in one or two individual modules, reflecting a growing commitment to advancing patient outcomes and workplace culture.

AACN President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, applauds the ICU team at OhioHealth Berger Hospital for their dedication. “The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” Marsh said. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”

“Our ICU team embodies the very best of patient-centered care,” said Casey Liddy, president of OhioHealth Berger Hospital. “This recognition reflects not only their clinical expertise but also their dedication to creating a supportive and collaborative environment where patients and families feel truly cared for every day.”

While many units provide exceptional care, Beacon-awarded units distinguish themselves through measurable achievements in patient outcomes, nursing workforce excellence, and work environment quality. Participation in the Beacon Award program allows units to reflect on performance against peers nationwide, often with award-level distinctions separated by less than a single point, highlighting the rigor and competitiveness of this recognition.

The ICU at OhioHealth Berger Hospital joins a national network of Beacon Award recipients, setting a standard for outstanding care, teamwork, and professional nursing practice.

• OhioHealth Shelby Hospital will begin offering mobile MRI services one day per week starting Wednesday, Sept. 30.
• The mobile MRI unit will be located near the imaging exit on the west side of Shelby Hospital.
• Services will be available Wednesdays from 7:00 am to 4:15 pm, with additional days added based on demand.

OhioHealth Shelby Hospital will begin offering mobile MRI services one day per week beginning Wednesday, September 30. The new service brings advanced imaging closer to home for patients throughout the Shelby community.

A mobile MRI unit will be conveniently located near the imaging exit on the west side of Shelby Hospital. It will operate every Wednesday from 7:00 am to 4:15 pm. Additional service days will be added based on demand.

“By bringing MRI services directly to OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, OhioHealth continues its commitment to provide compassionate, high-quality care to the communities it serves,” said Curt Gingrich MD, president of OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “This addition reflects our ongoing effort to reduce barriers to care and support the health of local families.”

Patients scheduled for an MRI will follow the same familiar process as other imaging outpatients. Patients will be screened at the main entrance and then proceed to registration. After being registered, patients will be taken to the imaging waiting area, where a member of the team will guide them to the mobile MRI unit.

• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital earned U.S. News & World Report recognition in the 2026–2027 Best Hospitals edition.
• The hospital received “High Performing” ratings in eight procedures and conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; heart arrhythmia; diabetes; kidney failure; knee replacement; COPD; pneumonia; and pacemaker implantation.
• Mansfield Hospital was ranked the 15th best hospital in Ohio and the top hospital in Richland County and surrounding areas.

OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital has earned recognition in U.S News & World Report's 2026–2027 Best Hospitals edition, achieving “high performing” ratings across eight procedures and conditions. This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.

The hospital received top marks for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, heart arrhythmia, pacemaker implantation, diabetes, kidney failure, knee replacement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia. U.S News also ranked Mansfield Hospital as the 15th best hospital in the state, earning the top spot in Richland County and the surrounding areas.

"We are incredibly proud of this recognition, which reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and care teams who show up every day to serve our community," said Curt Gingrich, president of OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. "Being named among Ohio’s best hospitals affirms our promise to provide exceptional, compassionate care to the people of Richland County and beyond. Our patients deserve the very best, and we remain committed to earning their trust with every interaction."

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.

“When patients face a major surgery or a chronic medical condition, having access to clear, quality data is vital,” said U.S. News’ Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis Ben Harder. “A ‘High Performing’ rating means that OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital outperformed a national threshold, giving families a reliable starting point as they consult with their doctors to choose the best place for care.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions; less than half earned recognition in any of those 37 areas of care. 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 patient experience. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from over 800 million records of patient care.

For more information, visit Best Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X.

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital

Originally from Argentina, Dr. Bustos developed an interest in rural surgery through his early experiences providing care abroad, where he saw the impact accessible, high-quality surgical services can have on patients and families.

“Van Wert Hospital gives me the unique opportunity to continue that path in combination with advanced surgical technologies that aren’t widely available elsewhere,” Dr. Bustos said. “I am committed to providing patients with exceptional care while allowing them to remain close to their homes, their support systems and their communities.”

Inspired by his father and sister, who are both general surgeons, Dr. Bustos said he was drawn to a career that combines medicine, technology and hands-on skill.

“Watching their commitment and compassion shaped my own path, inspiring me to pursue surgery with the same sense of purpose,” Dr. Bustos said. “Serving patients has become the greatest source of fulfillment for me, and it’s a responsibility I carry with pride every day.”

Dr. Bustos earned his medical degree from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Argentina. He completed a research fellowship in minimally invasive and robotic surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and general surgery residency at Saint Louis University.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Bustos to our team and to Van Wert," said Scott Jarvis, MD, associate vice president Clinical Affairs, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. "His expertise complements the strengths of our surgical team and will be a tremendous asset to the patients and communities we serve.”

Outside of medicine, Dr. Bustos enjoys soccer, tennis, computer science, traveling and spending time with his wife and two children.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact OhioHealth Van Wert General Surgery at (419) 238-4909.

• 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."

• Columbus Fire Medic 11/Engine 11/EMS 17 was named Riverside Methodist Hospital’s EMS Unit of the Year.
• The unit was recognized for exceptional clinical skill, teamwork, communication and commitment to emergency patient care.
• The award highlights the strong partnership between Central Ohio EMS agencies and Riverside’s emergency and specialty care teams. 

The OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital Emergency Department has named Columbus Fire Department Medic 11/Engine 11/EMS 17 its EMS Unit of the Year, recognizing the crew’s exceptional clinical skill, teamwork and commitment to delivering outstanding emergency care in the moments when it matters most.

The annual recognition honors an EMS unit that exemplifies excellence in pre-hospital medicine through rapid assessment, sound clinical judgment, seamless communication and unwavering dedication to patient care. Medic 11/Engine 11/EMS 17 demonstrated those qualities throughout the year, providing advanced emergency treatment while working in close partnership with Riverside’s emergency department and specialty care teams.

“EMS professionals are often the first link in a patient’s chain of survival, and the care they provide before a patient ever reaches our doors can make all the difference,” said Tina Solazzo, EMS Outreach Manager at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. “This group consistently demonstrates the professionalism, clinical excellence and teamwork that define outstanding emergency medical services. We are proud to recognize them as our EMS Unit of the Year and grateful for the partnership we share in caring for our community.”

The recognition also highlights the close collaboration between Central Ohio EMS agencies and the multidisciplinary teams at Riverside Methodist Hospital, where emergency physicians, nurses, trauma specialists, cardiologists and critical care teams work together to provide timely, lifesaving care.

“Exceptional patient outcomes begin long before a patient arrives at the hospital,” said Warren Yamarick, MD, Medical Director of the Riverside Methodist Hospital Emergency Department. “The skill, preparation and communication demonstrated by our EMS partners are essential to everything we do. M11 exemplifies the highest standards of emergency medicine, and this recognition reflects not only their clinical expertise but their commitment to working as one team with the hospital to provide the best possible care for our patients.”

OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital partners with EMS agencies throughout Central Ohio to advance emergency medical care through education, training, quality improvement initiatives and ongoing collaboration. The EMS Unit of the Year award recognizes the dedication of first responders whose expertise and partnership help improve outcomes for patients across the region.

The Olentangy Liberty High School students recognized a gap in the healthcare supply chain and saw an opportunity to give unused medical equipment a second life. This discovery led them to reach out to OhioHealth, where they connected with Jean Halpin, president of OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. Halpin responded to the students’ initial outreach and facilitated the connection with the system’s supply chain team.

“Glad you are doing this work. It saves the planet and helps others in our world,” Halpin told the Project MedBridge team.

That connection helped transform the students’ idea into a large-scale effort to redirect unused medical supplies to healthcare organizations that could use them.

“The supplies already existed, and the need already existed,” said Ben Kurian, team lead and junior at Olentangy Liberty High School. “What was missing was a way to connect the two.”

OhioHealth donated approximately $250,000 of medical supplies to Project MedBridge, including 9,393 boxes of 3M N95 respirator and 20,736 reusable hot-and-cold therapy packs. The supplies donated by OhioHealth are being distributed through Brother’s Brother Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based humanitarian organization that distributes medical supplies and equipment to hospitals worldwide.

“I was encouraged to learn there was an opportunity for these supplies to be utilized by organizations in need rather than being discarded,” Amy McFarland, OhioHealth senior consultant for supply chain, told the Delaware Source. “It is inspiring to see high school students demonstrate such a strong commitment to addressing both healthcare and environmental challenges.”

The students originally set a goal to collect around 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of medical supplies. With OhioHealth’s donation of more than 30,000 pounds the team quickly surpassed that goal and gained national recognition.

“At that point it wasn’t a hypothetical student project anymore. The biggest hospital system in our city was actually trusting us to figure out what happened next,” Vahin Dubey, outreach lead for Project MedBridge told the Delaware Source.

Project MedBridge was selected as one of 71 teams nationwide for the 2026 Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness class. As one of only two Ohio teams selected, the students received $7,500 in funding, along with access to a national network for young leaders.

“Being in a room with young people from across the country who were already building serious projects in their communities made it very clear that age doesn’t have to determine the scale of a problem you can take on,” Ben Kurian said. “Not even a week later, we were back in Ohio moving a donation larger than anything we could’ve dreamed of.”

With Project MedBridge’s first donation complete, they have set a new goal of redirecting 100,000 pounds of supplies by the end of 2027.

“This is the first,” said Naman Soni, operations lead for Project MedBridge. “The next step is making sure our work doesn’t stop with just one hospital.”

The 25-minute anti-rejection infusion he needs following liver and kidney transplants required a three-hour drive each way to Indianapolis. By the time Everhart made the trip there and back, he could be away from his office for six to nine hours.

Now, the trip takes about an hour.

Everhart now receives the infusion at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, just 15 minutes from home.

“It’s just much more convenient,” Everhart said. “I don’t have to pencil out all day at the office. I pencil out an hour and I’m back.”

The change came after Hardin Memorial’s pharmacy and infusion teams worked through the requirements needed to make Everhart’s medication available at the hospital. Because the medication was not initially on their formulary, Jake Abbott, advisor of pharmacy services, worked with care teams to determine what was needed to provide the treatment locally.

Although Everhart’s situation prompted the hospital to explore whether his treatment could be provided closer to home, the goal was bigger than finding a solution for one patient.

“We had the resources to do it,” Abbott said. “And it’s not just him. We want to help everyone.”

That effort is part of a broader push at Hardin Memorial to make more acute and specialty care available locally.

“They don’t need to be driving to Columbus. They don’t need to be driving out of state when they can get their infusion treatments here,” Abbott said.

Receiving an infusion locally can mean more than simply cutting down on miles. A long trip for a short treatment can require taking time off work, arranging transportation or finding someone to accompany a patient. For someone who is already not feeling well, the trip itself can be physically demanding.

“Any way we can get patients to come here and keep care local is a win,” Abbott said.

He encouraged patients who currently travel outside the community to reach out to Hardin Memorial to see whether their treatment may be available. Most patients can continue working with their existing physicians while receiving infusions at Hardin Memorial and the hospital can coordinate with a patient’s provider as needed.

Everhart said receiving his treatment at Hardin Memorial also brings familiarity. He has known many of the hospital’s employees for years and his wife, Kim, works as an administrative nurse manager.

“I have a team who I know personally, and I know they’re advocating for me,” Everhart said. “I’m just so blessed.”

After years of dealing with a chronic disease that damaged his liver, Everhart received a liver transplant in December 2022. He later received a kidney transplant in October 2023. His monthly infusion is part of the ongoing treatment needed to help prevent his body from rejecting the transplanted organs.

Everhart said he’s always been grateful for the care he’s received in Indianapolis. But for a treatment he needs every month, being able to receive it just 15 minutes from home has made a noticeable difference.

“I think it’s more than just convenience,” he said. “I think it actually keeps me healthier because I’m in a better mindset.”

The shorter trip means less time away from his work, his community and his family. Everhart said he hopes more people recognize what their local hospital has to offer.

“You have a lot of talented people working here who want to do good for the community. This is a tremendous facility, and people are missing out if they don’t use it.”

To learn more about Infusion Services at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, click here or contact (567) 295-6900.

Listen to our recent episode on WKTN’s Public Eye here.

• OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned Critical Access Hospital designation, strengthening its ability to provide care close to home.
• The designation provides greater flexibility and supports the hospital’s long-term sustainability as a rural healthcare provider.
• Van Wert Hospital successfully completed a comprehensive Joint Commission survey as part of the designation process

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned Critical Access Hospital designation, strengthening its ability to provide high-quality, patient-centered care while supporting the hospital's long-term sustainability and access to services close to home.

The Critical Access Hospital program was established to help rural hospitals maintain local access to care by providing additional flexibility through a cost-based Medicare reimbursement model.

“This designation helps ensure we can continue providing the care our community depends on, now and into the future,” said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “It strengthens our hospital, supports our caregivers and positions us to meet the healthcare needs of our community for years to come.”

With this designation, Van Wert Hospital joins other OhioHealth rural hospitals operating under the Critical Access Hospital model, including OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital and OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital.

Critical Access Hospitals are designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and must meet specific operational and regulatory requirements. As part of the designation process, Van Wert Hospital successfully completed a comprehensive Joint Commission survey assessing its compliance with nationally recognized standards for quality and patient safety through on-site observations and reviews of clinical and operational processes.

“Our priority is always making sure our patients receive safe, compassionate care," said Leslie Beining, chief nursing officer, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. "Critical Access Hospital designation gives our teams the flexibility and resources needed to provide that care and support the needs of our community.”

Van Wert Hospital leaders said they remain focused on providing trusted, patient-focused care throughout the transition. 

To learn more, visit jointcommission.org/accreditation/critical-access-hospital.

• O’Bleness Hospital earned U.S. News & World Report’s highest rating- High Performing - for care related to COPD and pneumonia.
• The recognition reflects strong patient outcomes and quality of care for two serious respiratory conditions.
• The ratings are based on objective measures including patient outcomes, preventable complications, mortality rates and patient experience.

OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals edition as a High Performing hospital for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pneumonia. This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.

Fewer than half of the thousands of hospitals evaluated earned a 'High Performing' designation in the types of care evaluated by U.S. News.

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.

“Being recognized as a High Performing hospital for COPD and pneumonia reflects the strength of the care our teams provide,” said O’Bleness Hospital president LeeAnn Lucas-Helber. “These conditions can require close coordination and specialized expertise, and our physicians, nurses and clinical teams bring that experience to every patient. We’re proud to provide this level of care for people in our community.”

“When patients face a major surgery or a chronic medical condition, having access to clear, quality data is vital,” said U.S. News’ managing editor and chief of health analysis Ben Harder. “A ‘High Performing’ rating means that O’Bleness Hospital outperformed a national threshold, giving families a reliable starting point as they consult with their doctors to choose the best place for care.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions; less than half earned recognition in any of those 37 areas of care. 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 patient experience. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from over 800 million records of patient care.

For more information, visit Best Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X.

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, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

• OhioHealth Physician Group Clinical ENT/ Otolaryngologist Dr. Christopher Selinsky has performed more than 100 Inspire procedures.
• Inspire offers an alternative for patients who can’t tolerate CPAP.
• The device helps keep the airway open during sleep.
• Untreated sleep apnea can raise serious heart health risks.
• OhioHealth patient, Daniel Lee, says Inspire improved his sleep and quality of life.

For people living with obstructive sleep apnea, a good night’s sleep can feel out of reach, especially when continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy isn’t an option.

For Daniel Lee, that search for an alternative led him to OhioHealth Physician Group Clinical ENT/ Otolaryngologist Christopher Selinsky, MD, who recently surpassed a major milestone by performing more than 100 Inspire procedures.

Approved by the FDA in 2014, Inspire Therapy is an implantable hypoglossal nerve stimulator designed to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

“I’ve now done over 100, probably around 105 at this point,” Dr. Selinsky said. “I’ve refined this and got it down to a bit of an art now. We can do it rather efficiently; I’ve decreased the incision sizes for patients and recovery time is pretty quick.”

During sleep, the device sends a small signal to the nerve that controls tongue movement, preventing the tongue from collapsing into the back of the throat and blocking the airway.

“In simple terms, a lot of people develop sleep apnea because their tongue falls into the back of the throat, creating a physical obstruction,” Dr. Selinsky explained. “The nerve stimulator sends a small signal to that nerve, lifting the tongue so patients can breathe past that obstruction with each breath throughout the night.”

Untreated sleep apnea can repeatedly interrupt breathing throughout the night, causing oxygen levels to drop again and again.

“What happens is through the night, you’ll have these apneic events which means you essentially you stop breathing and your oxygen goes down, and that happens multiple times a night,” Dr. Selinsky said. For some people, it’s 50, 60, 70 times an hour that’s happening where you’re having an apneic event, or even more than that.”

Those repeated drops in oxygen can do more than disrupt sleep; over time, they can put added strain on the heart and increase the risk of serious health complications.

“The long-term consequences of that are higher rates of cardiovascular disease which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, patients tend to have or can get arrythmias in their heart, so you may have heard of atrial fibrillation or AFIB,” Dr. Selinsky said. “That leads to being on blood thinners to prevent strokes and so there’s other health consequences if this is not treated whether it’s surgically or with a more traditional mainstay of therapy is CPAP, but many patients don’t tolerate CPAP which then patients land in an ENT office like myself and we’re talking about alternative surgical options.” 

Lee understands those risks firsthand.

After developing chronic nosebleeds, he visited Dr. Selinsky for treatment. During the appointment, the conversation shifted to Lee’s atrial fibrillation, or AFib, and the sleep apnea that was likely contributing to it.

“My cardiovascular surgeon made the recommendation to see Dr. Selinsky,” Lee said. “While I was there, we started talking about what kind of drives my AFib, which is sleep apnea.”

Lee had lived with sleep apnea for years and struggled to tolerate CPAP therapy.

“Sleep apnea is a life-altering problem for a lot of people, and mine is hereditary,” Lee said. “The CPAP machine just didn’t work for me. I was looking for an alternative, and that’s how Dr. Selinsky and I started talking about Inspire.”

According to Dr. Selinsky, before surgery, patients undergo a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether Inspire Therapy is the right treatment. One important step is a drug-induced sleep endoscopy, known as a DICE procedure, which allows physicians to evaluate how a patient’s airway collapses during sleep.

“We need to make sure patients have the appropriate anatomic findings that Inspire is going to work for them,” Dr. Selinsky said.

Once approved, the outpatient procedure is relatively straightforward.

“This is a minor procedure,” Dr. Selinsky said. “There are two incisions, one goes up under your jaw that allows us to get to the nerve that makes your tongue move and we need to put a small electrode around that nerve. And then wire gets tunneled through the soft tissue in your neck to the incision in your chest. That’s where the battery and the computer go.”

Compared to older surgical approaches for sleep apnea, Dr. Selinsky explained that Inspire Therapy offers patients a significantly easier recovery.

“Some of the more traditional surgeries were very painful,” he said. “This is a more modern technology that’s working better. The surgery is quicker, patients recover better and it’s helped a lot of people.”

Most patients, while not fully recovered just yet, return to work and normal daily activities within about a week.

“From a surgical standpoint, it’s a fairly easy recovery,” Dr. Selinsky said.

For Lee, deciding to undergo another surgery was the hardest part.

“I’m a stage 3 colon cancer survivor,” he said. “The real challenge was coming to grips with doing one more surgery. The surgery itself was a piece of cake.”

The procedure was completed at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, and Lee said everything happened exactly as expected.

“It was outpatient,” Lee said. “It all went exactly as he told me it was going to. Very little pain.”

About one month after surgery, the device is activated and carefully adjusted over time to provide the best results.

“You have to be patient getting the implant set on the right settings for you,” Lee said. “That takes time. But immediately I could tell it was going to work.”

Today, Lee no longer relies on a CPAP machine.

“Push the button, and you get up and go live your life,” he said. “Getting good sleep is critical to good health.”

Dr. Selinsky said Lee’s experience reflects what he hopes for every eligible patient.

“He’s done wonderful,” Dr. Selinsky said. “It’s treating his sleep apnea, changed his quality of life and he doesn’t have to wear a CPAP anymore.”

Although Inspire has transformed treatment for many patients, Dr. Selinsky emphasizes that not everyone with sleep apnea is a candidate. He encourages anyone interested in alternatives to CPAP to first speak with their sleep medicine physician.

“Just because you have sleep apnea doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a candidate,” Dr. Selinsky said. “Ask your sleep doctor would I potentially be a candidate for this, and if so, getting referred to an ENT doctor like myself to further discuss that.”

• Vicki Vogel has donated handmade hats, blankets, booties and other baby items to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital for years.
• Her gifts are distributed to families in the hospital’s labor and delivery unit, including those with premature babies and those experiencing loss.
• Vicki began making the gifts as a way to thank David Foulk, MD for the care she received over more than four decades.

Before a newborn ever wears one of Vicki Vogel’s handmade hats, the gift has already been made with intention and love.

For years, Vicki has crocheted hats, blankets, booties and other keepsakes for babies and families at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. Her creations are shared with families in the hospital’s labor and delivery unit, including parents of premature babies and those experiencing the loss of a child.

“With each stitch, I’m praying for the child that gets it,” Vicki said. “Just each stitch, each stitch.”

The idea began as a way for Vicki to give back after years of gratitude for the care she received from David Foulk, MD, OB/GYN and her OhioHealth providers. More than four decades ago, Dr. Foulk became her physician, and Vicki wanted to find a meaningful way to express her appreciation.

“I just wanted to do something to express thanks,” Vicki said. “Forty-one years ago, I became his patient, and he did something surgical that got me back living. How do you repay something like that?”

Vicki asked her sister, a longtime neonatal nurse, what she could do that would be meaningful and useful.

“She didn’t even hesitate,” Vicki said. “She said, ‘Do this. Make baby things, and he’ll give them to people. You’re blessing him, and you’re blessing the babies.’”

Since then, Vicki has filled shopping bags with handmade treasures that Dr. Foulk and the OB/GYN team deliver to labor and delivery. Nurses provide the gifts to families, allowing parents to choose a hat or blanket they love for their newborn.

One of Vicki’s most meaningful gifts was created for Ashley Boldman, surgical coordinator at the OB/GYN office.

When Ashley was pregnant with her son, she shared with Vicki that she had previously lost a daughter due to congenital heart and kidney defects. That experience played a role in Ashley’s decision to work in OB/GYN and support other families experiencing loss.

Vicki was moved by her story and just a week later, Ashley received a special handmade gift from Vicki: a quilt, booties and bibs for her son. The red and blue quilt was designed for a baby boy, but Vicki added one small pink teddy bear in the center as a reminder of his little sister.

“She made sure that someone who wasn’t even born yet would never forget someone he never met,” Ashley said. “That was amazing to me.”

She said the gift brought both tears and comfort.

“You always worry that someone’s going to forget the people that you lose,” she said. “The fact that someone took the time to remember someone so special to me and make sure that my son had a piece of his sister was incredible.”

Although Vicki’s gifts have touched many, she typically does not meet the families who receive her creations.

“I prefer not to,” Vicki said. “Because it’s so much more fun. I like envisioning Dr. Foulk doing it.”

Each handmade gift carries Vicki’s hope that families feel cared for.

“Especially the lost ones,” she said. “I want them to feel comfort.”

Dr. Foulk said Vicki’s generosity reflects who she is.

“She’s amazing,” he said. “I know she doesn’t want recognition, but I thought it was time she got some. She’s an accomplished, gifted and talented artist, seamstress, needle worker, baker, chef and has a poetic flare with words. She’s a strong Christian with a generous servant’s heart.”

And for Vicki, the reason behind the work is simple.

“I guess I want to make the Lord proud of me when I finally get home,” she said. “I just want to hear, ‘well done.’”

• 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.”

• A $500 donation from FOP Lodge 62 will support Paula’s Pantry at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital.
• The hospital’s food pantry provides short-term assistance and essential items to patients experiencing food insecurity.
• Community donations help the hospital connect people with immediate resources while directing community members to additional local food assistance.

A donation from the Van Wert Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 62 will help sustain OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital’s efforts to provide food and other essentials to patients and families in need.

The hospital’s food pantry provides short-term assistance to patients experiencing food insecurity. Hospital staff can connect patients with “Paula’s Pantry” when a need is identified, providing them with food to help meet immediate needs and information about additional resources available in the community.

“We’re fortunate to be part of a community that has always supported us as police officers and retired police officers, and we want to be able to give that support back,” said Bruce Showalter, president of FOP Lodge 62. “We just try to do what we think is right for the community.”

The $500 donation is part of the FOP Lodge 62’s ongoing commitment to supporting local organizations and community initiatives. The FOP also made donations to three other local pantries.

Paula’s Pantry includes a variety of shelf-stable foods that can be used to create simple meals, as well as essential items such as personal hygiene products and infant supplies.

“We know that food insecurity can create additional challenges for patients and families,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Support from community partners like FOP Lodge 62 helps us meet people where they are and provide resources that can make a meaningful difference during a difficult time.”

The food pantry is intended for current Van Wert Hospital patients, their families and associates who need assistance. Community members seeking food assistance are encouraged to access other local resources, including the United Way of Van Wert County, Carla’s Cupboard and other community pantries.

“The hospital serves the residents of Van Wert County, and it’s important to us to support that,” Showalter said. “We don’t want to be a community where services are difficult to come by. We hope to continue supporting these efforts in the future whenever we have the opportunity.”

• OhioHealth Marion General’s Grow Your Own Medical Staff program gives local students hands-on experience and mentorship as they explore careers in medicine.
• Several Marion physicians are program alumni who returned to practice in the community and now help mentor the next generation.
• The program’s first participant since its 2023 relaunch has been accepted into medical school, bringing its goal of growing future Marion physicians full circle.

A familiar face can make a difference in healthcare. At OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, that belief is at the heart of the Grow Your Own Medical Staff program, an initiative that invests in local students interested in pursuing careers in medicine.

“The Grow Your Own program is designed for students in Marion and surrounding communities who want to become physicians,” said Kerrie Reinhard, director of Medical Staff Affairs at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and head of the program. “We offer them an opportunity to work in the hospital setting and gain experience with the hope that eventually they will come back and practice here.”

The program originally existed at Marion General years ago before being relaunched in 2023 to continue that investment in the next generation of providers. Several physicians currently practicing at Marion General were once Grow Your Own participants themselves and now help guide the program as part of the steering committee.

“The greatest feeling is knowing that there’s quite a few of us that have gone through the program and the program works because we came back to our hometown and we’re giving back to the community that gave so much to us,” said Heather Columber, DO, OhioHealth family medicine physician and Grow Your Own program alumna.

Participants work as patient support assistants while also connecting with physicians, shadowing different specialties and learning more about careers in medicine.

For Delaney Tabbert, a Grow Your Own participant who is beginning medical school this August, the experience helped confirm her career path.

“I definitely attribute this program to one of my main reasons for deciding that I wanted to become a physician,” Tabbert said.

As a patient support assistant in the emergency department, she gained experience taking vital signs, performing EKGs, assisting with CPR, transporting patients and learning how hospital teams work together.

Beyond clinical skills, students gain confidence and a better understanding of what it means to care for people in their own community.

“Recruiting to a smaller community isn’t always easy,” Dr. Columber said. “But what we do have is caring for people that you live with or that you go to church with, that your kids go to school with. Medicine is about building relationships.”

That focus on relationships is a key part of the Grow Your Own experience. Each student is paired with physician mentors who help guide them throughout the program. Physician champions provide support within different specialties, giving students someone to learn from and envision as a future example.

The program also creates opportunities for students to connect with medical students and residents, who share their experiences navigating the path to becoming a physician. Students also learn more about physician opportunities and community needs through OhioHealth provider recruitment leaders.

“The personal connections that these students are now making, I think that is what makes it so special and just so different,” Dr. Columber said. “I made great relationships with some of the providers that I worked with, and they are some of my greatest colleagues now and long-term friends.”

For Beth Hardwick, a Grow Your Own participant and aspiring physician, those relationships have helped shape the kind of physician she hopes to become.

Hardwick was mentored by Dr. Columber and said watching her care for patients with a deep understanding of their lives outside the hospital showed her the importance of practicing medicine in a community where you know the people you serve.

One experience especially stood out. While working in the postpartum unit, Hardwick cared for a patient who lived nearby and whom she knew personally. She later saw the patient and her new baby at home in the community.

“Being able to care for her and her new child was really cool,” Hardwick said. “I get to see them doing well, and that was a really cool moment for me. That’s the benefit of working where you live.”

“Finding students in this area that want to become physicians, want to come back, work in their hometown, take care of their neighbors and their friends — that’s something really special,” Reinhard said.

And she’s already seeing that vision come to life.

“We had our first student get accepted into medical school,” Reinhard said. “I’m so proud of her and looking forward to seeing her come back and practice in Marion someday.”

Applications for the Grow Your Own Medical Staff Program open mid-November and remain open through Feb. 1. Students interested in learning more can contact Kerrie Reinhard at 740-383-8671 beginning in November.

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.”

• OhioHealth Marion General Hospital nurses connected with community members while providing first aid support at the Marion Women’s Club’s ice cream social.
• Nurses heard firsthand from neighbors about their positive experiences receiving care at Marion General.
• OhioHealth and the Marion Women’s Club share a longstanding commitment to supporting the health and well-being of the Marion community.

A familiar face at the hospital can mean a lot to a patient. But sometimes, the most meaningful connections happen outside hospital walls.

OhioHealth Marion General Hospital associates found new ways to connect while volunteering at the Marion Women's Club's Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Social, where emergency department nurses Courtney Jorgensen and Haley White provided first aid support.

Held at the Marion Women’s Club property on July 19, the free event brought residents together for an afternoon of history, music and fellowship, featuring Riverside Dairy ice cream, lawn games, special displays and tours of the Club’s historic home historic home and the newly dedicated Women's History Resource Center, which houses the Club's collection of archives.

For Jorgensen and White, the afternoon offered an opportunity to serve the community in a different way, meeting neighbors, hearing their stories and learning more about the impact Marion General Hospital has had on their lives.

“It was really memorable when people came up and shared their stories,” Jorgensen said. “They would tell us about their experiences at the hospital and how well they were cared for. It was nice to be in the community hearing those positive stories.”

Although the first aid station was there in case anyone needed assistance, the afternoon became more about conversations and connections.

“People would come up to us and say, ‘You look kind of lonely,’” Jorgensen said. “We would tell them that’s actually a good thing because we’re here just in case of an emergency, but we’re happy to help in any way that’s needed. It helps bridge the gap between healthcare and everyday life. We’re not only here when you’re sick, we’re also here when you’re healthy.”

White said it was rewarding to meet people in a different setting and hear their experiences at the hospital.

“It demonstrates our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community beyond the walls of Marion General Hospital,” White said. “It was nice to connect with people and show them that OhioHealth is invested in their health and well-being, not just when they’re a patient but every day.”

Jamie Cunningham, chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, said associates’ involvement in events like this reflects the compassion they bring to their work.

"Our associates care deeply about the people they serve, and events like this are another way they can connect outside the hospital," Cunningham said. "Those moments help build trust and strengthen the relationships that are at the heart of great patient care."

The partnership between OhioHealth and the Marion Women’s Club is rooted in a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of the community. Founded in 1895, the Marion Women’s Club has a long history of supporting public health initiatives, including advocating for the creation of Marion General Hospital.

“Health and public health have been a longstanding focus of the Marion Women’s Club,” said Valerie Wigton, president of the Marion Women’s Club. “We have always looked for opportunities to partner with organizations that care about the health and welfare of our community, and OhioHealth has been a wonderful partner.”

Over the years, Marion General Hospital and the Marion Women’s Club have collaborated on a variety of initiatives, including the Marion Women’s Club Gala, Women’s Wellness Wednesdays and Handbags for Hope, a program that supports individuals served by local domestic violence shelters.

“We feel very blessed and honored to have OhioHealth Marion General Hospital as one of our longtime partners,” Wigton said. “We look forward to continuing to work together to improve our community.”

It's a partnership Marion General Hospital hopes will continue for years to come.

“We’re fortunate to have partners like the Marion Women’s Club,” said Jim Parobek, president, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. “We want people to know we’re invested in this community every day. Whether we’re caring for patients in the hospital or partnering at events like this, we’re proud to support what makes Marion such a strong community.”

To learn more about OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, click here.

To learn more about the Marion Women’s Club, visit marionwomensclub.org.

• OhioHealth’s Diabetes Education Team is hosting live cooking demonstrations at the North End Farmers Market in Mansfield this summer.
• The demos show community members how to use fresh, seasonal farmers market produce in healthy, simple meals.
• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital offers additional support through diabetes self-management education, outpatient nutrition therapy and a diabetes prevention program.
• Upcoming cooking demonstrations are scheduled for August 13 and August 27

If you plan on attending the North End Farmers Market this month in Mansfield, don't be surprised if you smell a fresh, summer meal coming together packed with vitamins and nutrients.

OhioHealth's diabetes education team is hosting live cooking demonstrations at the farmers market this summer to encourage the community to make healthy eating choices.

“It’s a good teaching opportunity to show them how to utilize the things they’re purchasing here in a healthy way,” said Fulk.

Fulk says the main ingredients of the dishes are purchased at the farmers market, meaning they're in season and typically lower priced.

“I just want people to learn something new,” said Fulk. “Think about how they can implement something like this for themselves. Maybe they didn’t think they could do that before.”

For those who want to keep learning, Mansfield Hospital offers diabetes self-management education, outpatient medical nutrition therapy, and a diabetes prevention program.

The cooking continues at the farmers market August 13th and August 27th. Fulk says the demonstration will begin around 4:45 PM.

She encourages those attending to bring any questions they may have about the diabetes care programs, as well as an appetite for fresh, delicious food.

• OhioHealth’s 3PL program cuts order volume by 65%.
• The program consolidates shipments to improve efficiency.
• Fewer deliveries help reduce fuel use, emissions and packaging waste.
• Suppliers benefit from more predictable ordering and planning.
• The effort supports OhioHealth’s sustainability goals.

OhioHealth has spent the past two years developing and implementing a third-party logistics (3PL) supply chain consolidation program that delivers measurable results across sustainability, inventory management, and cost savings for the system and its supplier partners.

"The Supply 3PL program delivers three main benefits: sustainability improvements, better inventory management, and cost savings for both OhioHealth and suppliers," said Casey Sattler, director of Supply Chain at OhioHealth. "While we aren't formally measuring cardboard waste reduction as a metric, it is an undoubted collateral benefit. Our collaborative planning with suppliers leads to more consistent, less wasteful ordering."

OhioHealth's supply chain operates through two primary pathways. The majority of products are ordered through Cardinal Health, the primary distributor. A separate segment is purchased directly from suppliers, which historically results in multiple, small less efficient individual shipments being sent to various hospitals across the network. The Supply 3PL program targets those direct supplier orders by consolidating them into a single shipment per supplier, sent to one central location rather than to multiple hospitals.

“As we migrate products from a vendor direct service model to our Supply 3PL program, we leverage our Demand Planning team and tools to reduce inventory variability, improve product availability, and deliver supplies to our front-line clinicians next day vs. waiting several days under the legacy model,” Sattler added. 

Since launch, the program has achieved a 65% reduction in orders placed and a 50% reduction in order lines with participating suppliers. Those gains translate directly to reduced administrative burden for suppliers, who now handle fewer manual order entries, invoicing activities, and customer service interactions, freeing them to allocate resources more efficiently.

"Consolidating shipments leads to operational efficiencies, including reduced order volume, fewer shipments, and associated cost benefits for OhioHealth," said Gregory Diamond, manager of Supply Chain Operations. "It is a strategic move toward greater operational efficiency."

Diamond noted that both the supply chain operations and sourcing teams collaboratively manage the program, overseeing vendor relationships and internal operations.

The consolidation effort is also making logistics more efficient. Instead of sending numerous direct-to-site deliveries, the program uses palletized, consolidated bulk shipments. That approach helps reduce freight variability and makes load and distribution planning more predictable. It also uses existing Cardinal Health routes for last-mile distribution, cutting down on the total number of delivery trucks needed.

Suppliers are seeing benefits as well through greater order predictability. Using advanced analytics, the OhioHealth Demand Planning and Forecasting team provides participating suppliers with SKU-level ordering forecasts and site-level usage reports, helping them plan ahead with more confidence. A consistent ordering schedule improves manufacturing and distribution efficiency, better aligns orders with forecasted demand, and leads to stronger service levels, fewer urgent orders, and fewer returns.

The program also delivers financial benefits. By reducing the number of purchase orders, it lowers administrative costs as well as freight and material-handling expenses. Additional metrics related to administrative and freight cost savings are available for reference. The participation framework is designed to create equitable commercial value for suppliers, supporting long-term collaborative partnerships.

The program also supports OhioHealth’s sustainability efforts and helps meet Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare certification standards. By consolidating orders through a third-party logistics model, OhioHealth is able to reduce the number of deliveries, cutting fuel use and emissions while creating less packaging waste. The approach also streamlines the supply chain, reduces cardboard waste and helps prevent product damage, which means fewer replacement orders and less material to recycle.

"This program directly supports our Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare Certification," said Terri Scannell, principal advisor of Sustainability at OhioHealth. "Reduced transportation and waste directly advance the green transportation and waste reduction work streams required for certification, and that connects to our board-level sustainability objectives."

Bracco has emerged as a leading vendor in the 3PL program, embracing the process, realizing sustainability benefits firsthand, and serving as a model for other suppliers considering participation.

• OhioHealth is investing $10.2 million to expand cancer services at Berger Hospital.
• The project will add private infusion spaces, expand pharmacy services and double CT imaging capacity.
• The investment will improve access to cancer care close to home for Pickaway County and surrounding communities.

OhioHealth has announced plans to invest $10.2 million to expand and improve the Bradley Cancer Center at Berger Hospital. The project will enhance local cancer care for residents of Pickaway County and nearby communities, helping more patients receive treatment close to home.

The multi-phase project will unfold over the next two years. When complete, it will grow the hospital’s cancer program, enhance diagnostic imaging capacity and create new career opportunities in the region. The announcement follows a nearly $1.1 million donor-supported investment in 2025 that brought 3D mammography technology to Berger Hospital, allowing more than 4,500 women each year to access advanced breast cancer screenings locally.

The OhioHealth Bradley Cancer Center provides medical oncology, infusion therapy and supportive cancer care, allowing many patients to receive treatment close to home. This investment reflects OhioHealth’s ongoing commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of a growing community by expanding access to high-quality cancer care in Pickaway County and surrounding areas.

The Berger Hospital expansion is part of OhioHealth’s broader commitment to advancing cancer care across the region. OhioHealth is also investing in a new comprehensive outpatient cancer center in Columbus that will provide additional access to specialized cancer services for patients who need more complex care. For Berger Hospital patients, the center will strengthen connections to specialty care in Central Ohio while allowing patients to continue receiving appropriate cancer care close to home.

A Larger, More Comfortable Space for Patients

At the center of the investment is a renovated and expanded cancer center designed with patient comfort and future growth in mind. Cancer services will remain available throughout construction. Key improvements will include:

More private infusion spaces. The infusion center will grow from seven treatment spaces to 12 private infusion spaces, including specialized rooms to support additional patient needs. The additional infusion spaces will provide patients with more privacy and greater scheduling flexibility as demand for services continues to grow.

Expanded pharmacy services. A second pharmacy hood will help the hospital prepare more cancer treatment medications for patients close to home.

A second CT scanner. Berger Hospital currently operates the only CT scanner in Pickaway County. The additional scanner will double the hospital’s CT capacity, expanding imaging access for cancer patients while also supporting outpatient and emergency care.

Investing in People and the Community

“As our community grows, so does the need for high-quality cancer care,” said Casey Liddy, president of Berger Hospital. “This investment is the next step in a vision we are building together, one that puts our patients first and keeps exceptional cancer care right here in Pickaway County.”

“From advanced mammography to expanded infusion services and imaging, every investment we make is driven by a simple belief: that our neighbors deserve world-class cancer care close to home,” Liddy added. “We are proud of how far we have come, and we are even more excited about where we are headed.”

The $10.2 million project is funded by OhioHealth and is expected to create new positions in nursing, pharmacy and imaging as the cancer program continues to grow.

• OhioHealth’s North Market Mobile Mammography Unit expanded access to preventive care by providing mammograms at Richland Public Health’s Free Community Health Day in Mansfield.
• The unit completed 13 mammograms, including four baseline screenings, meaning those patients received their first-ever mammogram.
• Mobile mammography helps more people take the first step toward screening, with OhioHealth noting the mobile unit performs about 2.5 times more baseline mammograms than hospital locations.
• The event highlights the importance of early detection, as mammograms can help identify breast cancer earlier, when treatment is often more effective.

OhioHealth’s North Market Mobile Mammography Unit completed more than a dozen mammograms at Richland Public Health’s Free Community Health Day Friday. The mammograms were part of a variety of health services offered at the event as an effort to bring preventative care to those who need it most. In total, the mobile mammography unit completed 13 mammograms. Of those, four were considered “baseline,” meaning it was that patient’s very first mammogram.

“We perform approximately two and a half times more baseline mammograms on our mobile unit than we do at our hospital locations,” said Elisa Bryant MSML, BSN, RN, business project manager of oncology services at OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “That tells us something important. When we make screening more convenient and accessible, more people take that first step. It speaks volumes about the value of community outreach, education, and collaboration in helping our community prioritize their health.”

This was the North Market Mobile Mammography Unit’s third time partnering with Richland Public Health for Community Health Day. Patients with access to the patient portal have already received their mammogram results. Patients without portal access will receive their results by mail this week. If additional imaging is needed, a breast diagnostic health navigator will contact the patient directly.

“Early detection saves lives,” said Bryant. “Every mammography screening creates an opportunity to find breast cancer earlier, when treatment is often more effective, and outcomes are improved.”

Organizations interested in hosting the OhioHealth North Market Mobile Mammography Unit for a screening event may contact North Market Mobile Mammography at (567) 309-2512 or OhioHealth-Mobile-Mammography-NorthMarket@ohiohealth.com. The mobile unit serves businesses, community organizations, churches, and other groups that coordinate pre-registered screening events. Individual mammogram appointments cannot be scheduled directly through the mobile unit.

• A Wellness on Wheels visit connected Tonya Hall with a care team that helped her begin rebuilding her health and life.
• Family medicine physician Dorvan Byler, DO, focused on Hall’s potential rather than her circumstances, helping her build trust in care and in herself.
• OhioHealth Wellness on Wheels brings primary care and other essential health services directly into communities, serving nearly 1,000 patients each year.

For Tonya Hall, the first step toward rebuilding her life began with a visit to an OhioHealth Wellness on Wheels mobile unit during her stay at the Van Buren Shelter. It was there she met family medicine physician Dorvan Byler, DO — a relationship she says changed her life.

"About three years ago, when I stepped into the Van Buren Shelter, I was a mess," Hall said. "I was homeless. I was into my addiction. I had so many health issues.”

Wellness on Wheels brings OhioHealth providers into neighborhoods and community locations where access to healthcare is limited, providing primary care and other services — including women’s health, prenatal and postpartum care and preventive screenings — while connecting patients with additional resources.

Like many people without consistent access to care, Hall said she expected Dr. Byler to see only her circumstances.

“When I met him, I had this idea that I'm going to step on this bus,” she said. “I'm just going to have him fix what I'm coming here for."

Instead, she found a physician and team who saw beyond her circumstances.

"The way Dr. Byler looked at me, I still have that picture in my memory," Hall said. "It kind of struck me and stayed with me. To this day, I have never missed an appointment. He changed my whole life."

That’s the same approach Dr. Byler brings to every patient: focusing on the person, not just the challenges in front of them.

"It is really easy to kind of put patients into buckets of the patterns we've seen in the past with patients who are in those places," he said. "If you do that, then you miss a lot."

After just a few visits, he recognized Hall's determination.

"It was pretty apparent after even just a couple times meeting Tonya that she has a thing in her that's ready to overcome," he said. "She's saying I fixed her, but really I just believed her, convinced her to trust herself and helped her through a couple things. Then she figured her life out."

When Hall left the shelter, her relationship with Dr. Byler didn’t end. He continued caring for her as she found stable housing and transportation, regained her health and built the life she has today.

"We worked it together because I didn't know that was my change. I didn't know that was the beginning of me and my new life," she said. "This is my lifelong doctor."

For Dr. Byler, seeing Hall's transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of caring for patients through Wellness on Wheels.

"She's one of the reasons that I do this job. Watching someone come out of a space where everything's kind of falling apart, and then you just help them a little bit. You just have to trust them a little, show them a little bit of care,” he said. “Now look at her. It's really rewarding."

Today, Hall says she has a renewed sense of purpose and a future she once couldn't imagine.

"You have changed my life," she told Dr. Byler. "I love who I am today. I love it."

For those facing barriers to healthcare, a visit to Wellness on Wheels can be the first step toward building a relationship with a healthcare team. Each year, the program serves nearly 1,000 patients across central and southeast Ohio, helping ensure that cost does not prevent them from getting the services they need. The mobile units operate much like traditional primary care and women's health offices and connect individuals with additional resources when needed.

To learn more about OhioHealth Wellness on Wheels, click here.

If you want to support mobile healthcare in your community, visit OhioHealth Community Outreach - OhioHealth Foundation.

• OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital awarded 22 Mary Lou Johnson Scholarships to local students pursuing healthcare careers.
• Recipients include graduating seniors and college students studying nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, radiology and other health-related fields.
• The scholarship program honors Mary Lou Johnson's legacy while helping build the future healthcare workforce in Hardin County and surrounding communities.

OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Mary Lou Johnson Scholarship. This annual scholarship supports students from Hardin County and surrounding areas who are pursuing degrees in healthcare and related fields.

This year, 22 students have been awarded $500 scholarships — 12 graduating high school seniors and 10 returning college students — as they continue their education and prepare for careers in healthcare.

The scholarship honors the legacy of Mary Lou Johnson, a longtime advocate for healthcare access and education in Hardin County. This year's recipients are:

High School Recipients

• Paige Courtad, Riverdale High School – University of Findlay, Nursing
• Mekaylah Creamer, Kenton High School – Rhodes State College, Nursing
• Emori Criner, Kenton High School – Rhodes State College, Physical Therapy
• Kaiden Gammon, Kenton High School – Apollo Career Center, Nursing
• Alexander Scott George, Ridgemont High School – Ohio Northern University, Biochemistry
• Kimberly Heberling, Kenton High School – The Ohio State University at Lima, Radiology
• Kasey Luikart, Riverdale High School – University of Toledo, Nursing
• Adalyn Manns, Kenton High School – University of Findlay, Physical Therapy
• Quinlyn Spearman, Kenton High School – Tiffin University, Nursing
• Kolbie Stanfield, Ridgemont High School – The Ohio State University, Nursing
• Presley Wilson, Kenton High School – Miami University, Biomedical Engineering
• Amelia Young, Ada High School – Ohio Northern University, Medical Laboratory Science

Returning College Recipients

• Chloe Hattery – Ohio Northern University, Biology (Pre-Physician Assistant)
• Angelica Forester – Otterbein University, Nursing
• Caitlin Defibaugh – Rhodes State College, Nursing
• Leah Harder – Ohio Northern University, Nursing
• Mackenzie Kugel – Rhodes State College, Radiographic Imaging
• Morgan Lyons – Bowling Green State University, Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Kennedy Phelps – University of Findlay, Occupational Therapy
• Brailyn Thacker – Rhodes State College, Nursing
• Karley Wagner – Bowling Green State University, Applied Health Science (Pre-Physician Assistant)
• Ramzie Whitaker – Ohio Northern University, Pharmacy

"These students represent the future of healthcare in our community, and it is inspiring to see their commitment to caring for others," said Ryan Newland, senior advisor of operations at Hardin Memorial Hospital. “The Mary Lou Johnson Scholarship honors a legacy of service and celebrates the compassion and dedication each recipient brings as they begin their healthcare journey.”

Successful candidates for Foundation scholarships must be accepted or currently enrolled in health career programs such as nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, laboratory technology or other hospital-based undergraduate degree programs. Qualified students must be accepted as full-time students, demonstrate a strong aptitude for health service, and exhibit scholastic achievement, character, good citizenship and financial need. Applicants must reside within the Hardin Memorial Hospital service area.

"There's a growing need for healthcare professionals, and supporting students who want to serve in those roles is one of the best investments we can make," said Jim Parobek, president of Hardin Memorial Hospital. "We're proud to help these students as they work toward careers that will make a difference for patients and families in our community.”

The Hardin Memorial Hospital Foundation established the scholarship in 1988 to encourage students to pursue hospital-based healthcare careers and support local students who may be interested in seeking employment within Hardin Memorial Hospital's scope of services after graduation.

For more information about future scholarship opportunities, contact the Administration Office at Hardin Memorial Hospital at (419) 675-8151.

• Christopher Johnson, DO, of OhioHealth Family Medicine, is educating the community on symptoms, risks and when to seek care.
• People should wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to help reduce infection risk.
• Symptoms can come and go in waves and may last more than a month without treatment.
• Higher-risk groups include older adults, children, pregnant women, people with chronic illness and those with kidney issues.
• Hydration and electrolyte balance are especially important during illness and recovery.

As cases of Cyclosporiasis continue to rise across Ohio, OhioHealth Family Medicine Physician Christopher Johnson, DO, is helping educate the community about the outbreak, its symptoms and when to seek medical care.

The Columbus Dispatch recently spoke with Dr. Johnson as Ohio ranks among the states with the highest reported cases of cyclosporiasis. While the illness is not typically life-threatening, it can still cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms. The most common include stomach pain and cramps, intense diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite cyclospora and is most commonly spread through contaminated fresh produce or untreated water. While health officials are still investigating the source of the current outbreak, experts recommend washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly to reduce the risk of the infection.

Dr. Johnson told the Dispatch that individuals who believe have the illness should seek medical care so they can be tested and receive appropriate treatment. Without treatment, symptoms come and go in waves and can last for more than a month.

“Elderly people, children, pregnant women and those with disabilities or chronic illness can be more severely impacted by cyclosporiasis. People with kidney issues should be especially careful and seek medical care right away, as dehydration can be particularly detrimental,” Dr. Johnson told the Dispatch.

Because hydration is one of the biggest concerns with cyclosporiasis, people with existing kidney disease may be at greater risk for complications. The kidneys play a vital role in keeping the body balanced by filtering waste and regulating fluid and electrolyte levels, making proper hydration especially important during recovery.

“Even if you are cured of the illness,” Dr. Johnson said, “you should still prioritize rest and hydration as your body recovers from fighting the parasite. Don’t plan on being at work the day after the diarrhea stops.”

Cyclosporiasis is typically treated with the antibiotic trimenthoprim-sulfamenthoxazole, commonly sold under the brand names Bactrim, Cotrim and Septra. Along with the antibiotic, Dr. Johnson encourages patients to stay well hydrated.

“Anyone with the illness should be vigilant about hydrating, resting and keeping electrolyte levels up,” Dr. Johnson said.

As public health officials continue to investigate the outbreak, OhioHealth encourages anyone experiencing prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms to seek medical care for evaluation and treatment.

• Weapons-free screening begins Aug. 3 at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital to support a safe, secure environment for all who enter.
• Patients and visitors will enter through entrances #1 or #2 and complete a brief screening, including metal detectors and bag checks.
• Emergency care remains the highest priority, and screening is designed to minimize delays.

Beginning Monday Aug. 3, 2026, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital will implement weapons-free screening at designated public entrances as part of a systemwide effort to support a safe, secure environment across OhioHealth care sites. While weapons have long been prohibited at OhioHealth facilities, screening helps reinforce that policy at the point of entry. 

Healthcare organizations across the country are facing increased safety challenges. In response to these evolving risks, OhioHealth continues to evaluate and enhance security measures to help maintain safe environments for care and healing. 

"Everyone who walks through our doors deserves to feel safe," said Chris Blaney, director, OhioHealth Protective Services. "As violence in healthcare settings continues to rise nationwide, we're taking proactive steps to better protect our patients, visitors, associates and providers. Weapons-free screening is one way we're helping create a safer environment while ensuring our communities continue to have access to the care they need close to home." 

Beginning Aug. 3, patients and visitors can expect: 

• Screening at designated entrances, including metal detectors, bag and purse checks, and support from OhioHealth Protective Services officers, with a process designed to minimize delays.
• Entry through Door #1 or Door #2 only:
  • Door #1: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Door #2: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Patients who receive cardiac rehabilitation may continue to use Door #6 and will be contacted with additional information.
• Around-the-clock onsite coverage by OhioHealth Protective Services officers.
• Emergency treatment and life-saving care to remain the hospital's highest priority at all times. 

Van Wert Hospital is working closely with local emergency medical services and other partners to support the implementation of the new screening process. Beginning Sept. 1, all OhioHealth associates entering the hospital will also participate in weapons-free screening. 

"At OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, maintaining a safe, welcoming environment is central to our responsibility to the community," said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. "Weapons-free screening reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a safe place for those who come here for care and those who provide it." 

• OhioHealth Marion General Hospital earned multiple American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® awards for excellence in stroke care.
• The awards recognize the hospital's commitment to following the latest research-based stroke treatment guidelines, helping improve patient outcomes and reduce readmissions.
• The achievement reflects the dedication of Marion General Hospital's physicians, nurses, therapists, EMS partners and support staff to delivering high-quality stroke care close to home.

OhioHealth Marion General Hospital has received multiple American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptional team of physicians, nurses, therapists, EMS partners, and support staff at Marion General Hospital,” said Melodie Little, RN, Stroke Program coordinator. “Their dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence make a difference in the lives of our stroke patients. I am incredibly proud of our program.”

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest science-backed guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, Marion General Hospital qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care.

“Marion General Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely, appropriate care for strokes,” said Jim Parobek, president, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. “Get With The Guidelines programs help our teams put proven science into practice every day, supporting better outcomes so more people in our community can live longer, healthier lives.”

This year, Marion General Hospital received these achievement awards:

• Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Gold

“These awards reflect OhioHealth Marion General Hospital's commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Marion General Hospital can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and health care systems.”

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

• OhioHealth now offers a kidney transplant program at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, allowing patients to receive transplant evaluation, surgery and follow-up care within one integrated health system.
• The program is designed around the patient experience, reducing handoffs between providers while delivering coordinated, compassionate care through a multidisciplinary transplant team.
• Led by experienced transplant surgeons and transplant nephrologists, the program provides advanced surgical expertise, innovative technology and individualized treatment plans for patients with advanced kidney disease.
• Patients and families receive support throughout the transplant journey, from education and evaluation to surgery, recovery and long-term care, helping them make informed decisions with confidence.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — OhioHealth is expanding access to advanced care for patients with kidney disease through the launch of its Kidney Transplant Program at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital.

The new program allows patients to receive every phase of their transplant journey, from evaluation and surgery to recovery and follow-up, within the OhioHealth system. OhioHealth is providing patients with coordinated, compassionate care designed to reduce stress and improve the overall transplant experience under the care of a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

For many people living with advanced kidney disease, a kidney transplant can offer greater independence, increased energy and freedom from dialysis. The OhioHealth Kidney Transplant Program is designed to ensure patients and their families feel informed, supported and connected throughout every step of that journey.

“Receiving a kidney transplant is one of the most significant moments in a patient’s life, and our responsibility extends far beyond the operating room,” said Hannah Kerr, MD, MBA, transplant surgeon at OhioHealth. “We have built this program to provide exceptional surgical care while surrounding patients with a dedicated team that communicates closely, supports their goals and walks beside them throughout their transplant journey.”

Patients undergoing evaluation for transplantation receive care from a multidisciplinary team that includes transplant surgeons, transplant nephrologists, advanced practice providers, transplant coordinators, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers and financial counselors. Together, the team develops individualized care plans while helping patients and caregivers navigate every aspect of the process.

The program also provides evaluation for both deceased and living donor kidney transplantation. Living donor transplantation may offer shorter waiting times, improved long-term outcomes and the ability to schedule surgery in advance for eligible patients.

“Kidney transplantation is not simply about replacing an organ.  It’s about restoring health, independence and hope,” said Salma Shaikhouni, MD, transplant nephrologist at OhioHealth. “Our goal is to ensure every patient understands their options and receives personalized care that reflects their medical needs, their values and the life they want to return to.”

OhioHealth’s integrated approach allows patients to remain within one trusted health system throughout their care, creating stronger communication among providers, fewer transitions and greater continuity during their complex medical journey.

Individuals with end-stage kidney disease or advanced chronic kidney disease who are interested in learning more about transplantation are encouraged to speak with their physician or contact the OhioHealth Kidney Transplant Program directly.

For more information, go to https://www.ohiohealth.com/campaigns/kidney-transplant

or call (614) 544-4269.

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, faith-based health system serving patients across Ohio through a network of hospitals, physician practices, ambulatory sites and health services. Guided by its mission to improve the health of those it serves, OhioHealth provides compassionate, high-quality care while advancing medical innovation, education and community wellness.

• OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital’s $2 million MRI department is expanding access to advanced imaging in Hardin County, offering MRI services five days a week instead of relying on a limited mobile unit.
• The new large-bore MRI scanner is designed to create a quieter, more comfortable experience for patients, especially those who may feel claustrophobic or anxious during imaging.
• Since opening, the department has completed nearly 700 MRI exams, reduced the need for patient transfers and helped providers deliver faster diagnoses and treatment plans closer to home.

It's one thing to interpret MRI scans every day in a clinic. It's another to lie inside the machine yourself and experience every sound and sensation firsthand.

For Aaron Fritz, DO, orthopedic surgeon at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, that shift happened earlier this year when he became one of the first patients to use the hospital's new MRI department.

When Dr. Fritz needed an MRI for a musculoskeletal condition of his own, he found himself on the other side of care.

"My rheumatologist asked if I could get it done locally," he said. "I said absolutely, we have a brand-new one."

Experiencing the MRI as a patient gave him a new perspective on an investment he now sees benefiting his own patients every day.

"I don't think I got VIP treatment," he said. "I think that's how they treat everybody."

He was impressed not only by the kindness and professionalism of the imaging team, but also by the scanner itself.

"The machine was very quiet," Dr. Fritz said. "The biggest complaints I hear from patients are claustrophobia and the loud noise, and this was a big improvement."

The new MRI features a large-bore design that creates a more spacious feel than many traditional scanners, making the experience more comfortable for patients of all body types. Interim director of imaging, Dylan Black, said the newer technology also operates more quietly than older MRI systems.

"Those who are claustrophobic can tolerate a scan in this unit better," Black said. "It's more comfortable and easier for patients."

The $2 million MRI department was designed to strengthen access to advanced imaging across Hardin County, bringing services closer to home and improving how quickly patients can receive answers. Prior to December 2025, MRI services were provided through a mobile unit that limited availability to just a few days each week, making it more difficult to accommodate urgent needs without delay or transfer.

"We wanted to improve patient access and bring MRI services here five days a week," said Black. "We looked at it and said, 'We can do better.'"

The impact was immediate. On the department's first day, the team completed an inpatient MRI that otherwise would have required a transfer. Today, care teams are seeing faster access to imaging, quicker diagnoses and fewer delays in care.

Since opening, the MRI department has:

• Completed close to 700 MRI exams.
• Expanded MRI availability to five days per week.
• Reduced the need for patient transfers for MRI services.
• Improved turnaround time from provider order to diagnosis.

For physicians like Dr. Fritz, those improvements mean patients can get answers and begin treatment sooner. The upgraded scanner also produces clearer images, helping physicians make more accurate diagnoses while making it easier for patients to understand their conditions.

"We want to save patients that travel time," Dylan said. "The more care we can provide here, the better it is for our community."

For Dr. Fritz, becoming one of the department's first patients reinforced what the investment is really about.

"Having this technology here means our patients can receive high-quality care closer to home," he said. "That's a win for everyone."

To schedule an appointment or to learn more about imaging services at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, click here.

• More than 120 survivors, caregivers and care team members attended OhioHealth Marion General Hospital's first Cancer Survivor Celebration Dinner during Cancer Survivor Month.
• The inaugural event celebrated hope, resilience and survivorship for patients at every stage of the cancer journey.
• Survivors and care teams reinforced a simple message: no one faces cancer alone.

Four illuminated letters, H-O-P-E, stood at the front of the auditorium at Tri-Rivers Career Center, setting the tone for OhioHealth Marion General Hospital’s first Cancer Survivor Celebration Dinner.

More than 120 survivors, caregivers and care team members filled the auditorium for the inaugural event - held during cancer survivor month to recognize survivorship and bring together patients across all stages of care in one shared space.

"You're a survivor from that very first day," said Lucinda Pfeifer, program manager, Marion Cancer Services. "Because you do fight, you come prepared to beat cancer."

The celebration marked the first event of its kind for OhioHealth Marion, welcoming patients who are newly diagnosed, actively receiving treatment or in remission. Guests gathered for dinner, entertainment, photos and conversation with others who have shared similar experiences.

"It's important to recognize patients' strengths because I think sometimes they forget that they are strong, that they can get through this," Pfeifer said. "This helps remind them that they are fighting. They are survivors, and we're here to support them."

Survivor Jo Walters shared her story during the event, encouraging others to focus on hope and perseverance.

"You all have stories. You all have your own experiences," Walters said. "But I wanted to share with you my story to let you know that, yes, there is a bright light at the end of this adventure. Cancer is a word. It's not a sentence. And it doesn't define you."

Pfeifer said the event also highlighted the broader network of support involved in cancer care.

"Nobody goes through a cancer journey alone," she said. "From medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion, registration and navigation teams, this evening celebrates the support we can provide to help patients through their journey."

Walters said that sense of support is what stood out most.

"They're wonderful. They are absolutely wonderful," she said. "They're there to support you in whatever way they can. This is an awesome event because it brings together survivors and people who are just diagnosed, and we can all share in this for one night."

Survivor Renee Hildreth also shared encouragement for those early in their diagnosis.

"It’s baby steps. Don't try to just leap into it. I’m five years out and I'm still taking baby steps," she said. "Groups are there and they’re well needed. You’re never alone, never alone."

To learn more about the OhioHealth Marion Cancer Center and their support services, click here.

• OhioHealth has opened a new $17 million radiation oncology clinic in Westerville, expanding local access to cancer treatment with an 11,000‑square‑foot facility and state‑of‑the‑art technology.
• The center features a new linear accelerator, a dedicated radiation oncology CT, and a mobile PET/CT pad, enabling highly customized treatment plans developed by radiation oncologists, dosimetrists, and medical physicists.
• Patient and community safety is a core focus, supported by real‑time monitoring systems and heavily reinforced concrete walls—requiring roughly 500 yards of concrete—to ensure safe delivery of daily radiation treatments close to home

Cancer patients who live in and near Westerville have a new treatment option available right in their community.  As of June 28, an 11,000 square foot, one-story building addition at the OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus brings a brand new radiation oncology clinic.

The $17 million investment in the community includes:

• A linear accelerator (LINAC), which uses high energy x-rays and electrons that are customized to each patient’s cancer. It works to destroy the cancer cells, while sparing normal tissue. Radiation oncologists work with a dosimetrist and medical physicists to develop a highly customized treatment plan for each patient.
• A dedicated radiation oncology CT machine.
• A mobile PET/CT pad.

Construction on the addition began in May 2025. 

“Patients receiving radiation as part of their cancer treatment are typically treated Monday through Friday, sometimes for several weeks,” said Andrew Freeman, MD, chief of radiation oncology at OhioHealth. “OhioHealth’s goal is to keep quality care close to home which is why we continue to make these investments in local communities like Westerville.

Safety is the top priority for patients and staff, as well as those in and around the facility. Safety measures, such as a real-time audio/visual system to monitor patients during their treatment and constructed concrete walls up to 7’ ¼” thick help to ensure safety.  Fun fact: the entire pour was roughly 500 yards of concrete, which is equal to roughly 50 concrete trucks!

Click here to learn more about the radiation oncology program at OhioHealth.