CARING Spring 2006

COMMUNITYMEMORIAL

3

REAL LIFE, REAL HEALTHI N V E N T U R A C O U N T Y

SPRING 2006

Breast

cancer

isn’t a

death

sentence.

It’s a life

sentence.

Community Memorial Health System

Lisa BarretoBreast Cancer Survivor & Advocate

Advocacy and

“Actitude”How one woman

brings hope to women with breast cancer

W

CARING | COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM2

wilde thoughts

Michael EllingsonVice President of Marketing and Development

Mary McCormickEditor

Amy BentleyMichael Briley

Kelly EellsLisa Snider

Stan WhisenhuntWoody Woodburn

WritersRichard Slack

Brooks SmothersNick WeissmanPhotographers

ZestNetArt Direction/Design

Published by:Community Memorial Health System

A not-for-profit organization.

147 N. Brent St., Ventura, CA 93003©2006 Community Memorial Health System

For permission to reprint any portion of this magazineplease call (805) 652-5492.

COVER PHOTO: RICHARD SLACK

The Value of Caring

COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM

BOARD OF TRUSTEES2006

Gary L. Wolfe, ChairmanGregory H. Smith, Vice Chairman

Glen C. Farr, SecretaryHarry L. Maynard, Treasurer

Stanley Frochtzwajg, M.D., Chief of Staff,Community Memorial Hospital

Fredrick Menninger III, M.D., Chief of Staff, Ojai Valley Community Hospital

Ralph R. BennettMichael D. Bradbury, Esq.

Philip C. Drescher, Esq.John M. Edison, M.D.Timothy J. Gallagher

John J. HammerWilliam L. Hart, M.D.

John V. Hill, M.D.Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller

Fritz R. HuntsingerRobert J. Lagomarsino, Esq.

Sandra R. MasielF. Ted Muegenburg, Jr., Esq.

Martin A. Pops, M.D.John W. Russell

Kathryne WeldonDouglas A. Woodburn, M.D.

EMERITUS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Ralph Busch, M.D.Leonard OrtizJanice P. Willis

Recently the Ventura County Star and the Los AngelesTimes published articles on the role Southern Californiahospitals play in the region’s economy. The informationpresented was commissioned by the Hospital Association ofSouthern California, and was quite an eye opener.

It was reported that hospitals in Southern Californiacontribute 12.1% of the region’s economic output. InVentura County, hospitals generated $2.4 billion of thecounty’s total gross economic output of $35.7 billion in2004. Yet, we are a vulnerable industry, with 107 out of 212hospitals losing money in 2004. And the challenge getsmore difficult with each passing year.

Because of your support, Community Memorial HealthSystem operates in the black, but we are becoming more mindful of the fact that hospital revenues ofyesterday have been significantly reduced in today’s marketplace, and that prudent management of ourresources is imperative to maintain a solid financial footing. This rings even more true for us, as we arean independent, community owned, not-for-profit health system, serving the residents of VenturaCounty. We operate without the financial safety net of a corporate or government entity backing usup during lean times. We are solely dependent on the communities we serve for financial stability.

Although we are a significant part of the economy of the communities we serve, how we takecare of the residents within those communities is most important to us. Our success is based uponproviding the best, personalized medical care available, and we are proud of our legacy of providingsuch care for over 100 years. We recognize that every individual we treat is a stakeholder in our sys-tem, and that each of you has our commitment that we will strive to do our best to meet all of yourexpectations while you are our guest.

In 2005, many of your neighbors and friends received such personalized care. An example ofsome of that care is within the 3,338 babies delivered in our Maternal Child Health Center; the 15,424community residents hospitalized for care; the 12,744 individuals who underwent surgical procedures;the 176,632 people who visited one of our nine Centers for Family Health throughout the county; andthe 40,960 who found their way into our emergency centers.

We believe in neighbors taking care of neighbors, and it is this relationship that means the mostto us at Community Memorial Health System.

In this issue, meet a few of your neighbors. My personal thanks to Lisa and Bob Barreto, ChilantSprague, Marci Grace and Joy Stevens for sharing their personal stories, and to our outstanding teamof physicians and staff that so compassionately take care of all of us.

Enjoy this issue of Caring, and please let us know how we can better serve you.

Gary K. WildePresident & CEOCommunity Memorial Health System

Gary Wilde,President/CEO

12

4

COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM | CARING 3

On SolidGround

contents

Greg Smith

Vice Chairman, Community MemorialHealth System Board of Trustees

A lot of exciting things have happened at Community MemorialHospital since Gregory Smith joinedthe Board of Trustees in late 1998.

The Ventura Hospital opened a series ofcommunity-based clinics around westernVentura County to provide top-notch health-care to people in their hometowns. CommunityMemorial Hospital has become well known forits state-of-the-art technologies that havebrought innovative ways of treating patients,

such as the da Vinci surgical robot. Through allthis, CMH has remained independent and fis-cally sound.

“It’s a remarkable achievement in today’shealthcare environment,” said Smith, the Board ofTrustees’ Vice Chairman.

Smith is proud of these and other accom-plishments at CMH while he has been on the Board. Smith, who grew up in Ojai, alsowas pleased to see CMH join with Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital. The two hospitalsjoined with the Centers for Family Health toform Community Memorial Health System.

For Smith, the biggest challenge for the future will be to keep Community MemorialHealth System on solid financial ground whilerebuilding CMHS facilities to meet new stateearthquake standards. The goal is to rebuild by2020 without closing or halting services. “It’scritical and essential to stay open,” he said.

In addition, Smith said, “I’d like to see usincrease our role in wellness and preventativemedicine.”

Serving as a Trustee is just one way Smithgives his time to public service, a family tradi-tion. Smith’s mother, Janice Willis of Ventura,was a longtime CMH Trustee.

Smith has served on the boards of theVentura County Museum of History and Artand the New West Symphony for many yearsand co-chairs the museum’s capital campaign.He serves on the board of Ivy Lawn MemorialPark and is active with the Downtown VenturaOrganization.

Smith now lives in Ventura with his wifeShelley and sons Ryan, 17, and Logan, 13, whowere born at CMH. Smith attended ThacherSchool and the University of California atBerkeley, and he is the managing partner ofSmith-Hobson, a company that manages fam-ily-owned agricultural, commercial and resi-dential properties in Ventura, San Luis Obispoand Monterey counties.

5THE OTHER HALFA Husband’s Experience with Breast Cancer

6A TRIBUTE TO A HERO

7FOUNDATION NEWS

11ROBOT ASSISTED SURGERYBreaking New Ground

CHIEF CONCERNSA Spirited Q&A with the CMHS Chiefs of Staff

11

14FEELING GOODRebuilding Your Self-EsteemAfter a Mastectomy

14REDUCING RISKCMH Takes the Lead in GroundBreaking Carotid Stent Study

15PHARMACIST CORNERPolypharmacy

16PACSThe Whole Picture

16COMMUNITY @Community

Western Casino NightBenefiting Ojai Valley Community HospitalSaturday, May 13, 2006Ojai Valley Inn Ranch & StablesFor more info: 805-640-2317

Gold Dust GalaBenefiting Community Memorial HospitalSaturday, May 20, 2006, Seaside ParkFor more info: 805-667-2881www.golddustgala.com

Relay for Life Benefiting American Cancer SocietySaturday & Sunday, May 6&7, 2006Buena High SchoolInfo: 805-276-8148, www.cancer.org

NICU Golf Tournamnet Benefiting the Neonatal Intensive Care UnitFriday, July 28, 2006Sterling Hills Golf ClubFor more info: 805-667-2881

UPCOMING FOUNDATION EVENTS UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

QUALITY OF LIFEA da Vinci Success Story

LIGHTING THE WAYA Beacon for Women withBreast Cancer

PROFILE


Two decades ago, Lisa Barreto’shome burned to the ground and she“lost everything.” Or so she believedat the time. In 2002, Lisa gained anew perspective of loss when shewas diagnosed with breast cancer.

“My first thought was I was going to losemy life,” Barreto says, recalling the moment shelearned she had ductal carcinoma in situ, a typeof breast cancer.

Barreto lost her left breast to a mastectomyand admits that like many women in her situation, she feared losing her husband becauseof it. Yet instead of being about loss, LisaBarreto’s story is about what she has gained fromher challenging journey.

“I learned that breast cancer isn’t a deathsentence,” the 47-year-old Venturan shares. “It’s alife sentence. It makes you look at life in a newway.”

Barreto’s new view of life began in February2002 when she went in for a routine annual

mammogram. The results showed two tiny suspicious spots that warranted a biopsy.

“Waiting for the biopsy results seemed likean eternity,” Barreto remembers. Four days lateron Good Friday — “I don’t know what was sogood about it,” she now jokes — the bad news shefeared came back: breast cancer. The good news,however, was that it had been caught as early aspossible in Stage 0. Still, “cancer is cancer,”Barreto says. “It’s very scary.”

With her world spinning wildly, Barretorefused to be knocked off her axis. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she focused on the challenge at hand. “I researched the disease,”Barreto says, noting that she tries to live by aword she coined: “actitude,” which means takingaction using a positive attitude.

Barreto decided to be her own advocate andbegan by selecting her own medical team thatincluded oncologist Dr. Rosemary McIntyre,general surgeon Dr. Michael Sparkuhl, andreconstructive surgeon Dr. Sam Bern. “They areall absolutely fabulous,” she says.

Shortly after being diagnosed, Barretosought a breast cancer support group on campusat Ventura College — where she had recentlyenrolled — only to discover there wasn’t one. Butshe found support nonetheless. Her English professor, who himself had battled cancer, couldn’t have been kinder. Her Spanish professorwas likewise “incredible” after noticing Lisa crying in class one evening.

After discussing her treatment options withher doctors, Barreto made the decision to have a

total mastectomy to remove the entire left breast.It was an emotional decision, to say the least.

“Many women worry their husband willleave them because he won’t love them afterthey lose a breast,” explains Barreto, adding shefelt the same way. “I believe breast cancer is notjust a medical illness. For a patient it is a social ill-ness because of the way we think about women’sbreasts. I felt like that part of me, my breast, wasbeing erased. For a long time I couldn’t even goto the bookstore and look at books on cancer.When I finally did go, I couldn’t find one thingabout hope. If someone could just give me aword.”

Displaying “actitude,” Barreto sent out postcards and e-mails asking individuals to giveher just such a word. “I got words that helpedput things in perspective,” she says. “I got wordsall the way from Oxford, England.”

“Headlights” was an especially powerfulword for her, arriving as the title of an essay thattalked about not worrying over what you can’tsee in the dark off to the side or behind you, butrather focusing on the illuminated road directlyin front of you.

On June 5, 2002 — a date Lisa can recall asquickly as her birthday or wedding anniversary -the road led her to an operating room to have amastectomy. Lying in her hospital bed afterwards, Barreto looked out the window at a tree. “It was a windy night,” she shares, “and I thought to myself: ‘I’m as strong as that tree.My roots go deep. If my cancer hasn’t spread,I’ve got to do something to help others.’ ”

LIGHTINGTHEWAY

“actitude,” which means taking

action using apositive attitude.


With her cancer completely removed -“there’s a 99 percent chance it won’t return,” sheallows — Barreto wasted no time in keeping herword. During her hospital stay, a nurse told Lisashe also had breast cancer and asked for a wordof hope.

“I gave her the word ‘headlights,’” Barretosays. “Now my role had turned. Two monthslater I was in the waiting room with that nurse’shusband and father while she had surgery.”

Further keeping her word to help others,Barreto in 2002 founded the Ventura CollegeBreast Cancer Education & Advocacy Group.She also routinely visits breast cancer patientswhen they go into the hospital for surgery. Sheprovides a calming influence and hope. After all, in addition to her mastectomy operation,Barreto underwent a series of three separatereconstructive surgeries at CommunityMemorial Hospital: tissue expansion, salineimplant, and nipple surgery. “It’s not a simpleprocess,” says Barreto. “I called other womenwho had reconstructive surgery. It’s a very per-sonal thing. I decided it was right for me.”

Asked how she finds the time and energyto help so many others while being a wife,working part time as a paralegal specialist andpursuing her bachelor’s degree at theUniversity of California Santa Barbara (at theVentura Center) on a prestigious RegentsScholarship, Lisa Barreto replies simply andsuccinctly: “Headlights.”

Indeed, she is a beacon illuminating thejourney ahead for others. T

he O

ther

Hal

f Each year more than 200,000 Americanwomen are diagnosed with breast cancer, butoften overlooked are the husbands andboyfriends who must also cope with the disease.

“I had to deal with the reality that I might lose her,” recalls BobBarreto, whose wife Lisa had a total mastectomy four years ago. “It makesyou realize how vulnerable life is. But I decidedI wouldn’t dwell on the possibility of losing her.”

Lisa, however, like many women withbreast cancer, couldn’t help but dwell on thepossibility of losing her husband as a result ofhaving a mastectomy.

“I thought he’d leave me,” Lisa confides,noting the importance society places onwomen’s breasts. “It was so important whenBob told me, ‘We’ll get through this together.’Those words made me feel so safe.”

Bob, who will celebrate a 15th wedding anniversary with Lisa thisSeptember, admits he experienced tears and fears after his wife was diag-nosed. “I was definitely scared, but I wanted to focus on being supportive.I always kept my hope and tried to give her hope.”

“He was always there for me,” Lisa says. “Always.”After her mastectomy, after Lisa had lost her left breast, Bob reassured

his wife that in his eyes nothing about her had changed.“I told her she’s beautiful and pretty,” Bob relates. “I still tell her she’s

beautiful.”“I needed to hear that,” says Lisa.“We were slammed by a wake up call,” says Bob. “You’re never ready

for something like this, but it teaches you about the real priorities in life -the health of your loved ones.”

Bob Barreto looks over at his wife seated next to him in their Venturahome, smiles, and adds this: “She’s an amazing woman. We had a wonder-ful bond before, but this has brought us even closer together.”

“I had todeal withthe realitythat I mightlose her”

The

Oth

er H

alf

Bob

& L

isa

Bar

reto

“We live in a beautiful community and giving

something back can giveyou a beautiful feeling.”

A short distance away outside Room 108 a similar plaque reads:

In Honor Of My HusbandThe Honorable Mansfield D. Sprague

Your Loving Wife Chilant SpragueMannie Sprague, now 95, is also a model of

service to our country. During World War II heserved in the Navy and after the war enjoyed asuccessful career in politics, including a positionas legal counsel for the Department of Defenseunder President Eisenhower.

Sadly, Mannie, like Chilant, knows what it’slike to lose a loved one in war: His youngerbrother, Charles “Bud” Sprague, was killed at age28 on a flight mission for the Air Corps.

Mannie and Chilant met in Paris and havebeen married for 45 years. Prior to that Chilantwas married to Herbert’s father for 20 years. Thecouple came to Ojai 27 years ago.

Chilant was born in Michigan, but grew upin Santa Barbara. She earned a master’s degreefrom UCLA and enjoyed a 40-year career in edu-cation — mostly in Sacramento — as a teacher andprincipal. This is all the more impressive whenthis daughter of a French mother and Italianfather laughingly tells you, “I flunked kinder-garten because I didn’t know any English.”

As a tennis enthusiast, Chilant has annuallybeen part of the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament -even serving as a linesperson. “One time I calleda shot out and this guy turns and yells at me, ‘Oldlady, put your glasses on!’ ” she recalls. “But thetruth is it was out. I didn’t think I was old. I wasstill in my early 80s!”

Asked the secret to her vitality, Chilantanswers: “I swim every day. It’s not just physicallyimportant, but mentally and emotionally impor-tant to visit with my friends at the pool.”

She is at Ojai Valley Athletic Club every morn-ing at 10 a.m. to swim four laps. “If I have a little bitextra energy I might do six laps,” she allows, addingwith a smile, “I used to play tennis every day, butmy knees didn’t hold up — at about (age) 85 I hadto give it up.” Now she’s focusing on giving back.

Thanks to her philanthropy, Rooms 104 and108 now feature beautiful wood floors, new furni-ture (including a comfortable recliner in each) andnew lighting fixtures. In addition, the closets havebeen resurfaced, the window treatments havebeen redone and, perhaps most pleasing toChilant, the walls have been painted a warm aqua.

“The new color is so good for relaxing,” saidChilant. “It is exactly what I would like if I had tostay in the hospital. I wanted to contribute to mycommunity and I think the new rooms are a greatway. I’d be very happy if others followed suit.Giving back gives you a wonderful feeling,” saysChilant Frenzell Sprague.


On January 21, 1967, UnitedStates Army Private Herbert ErnestFrenzell, in an act of heroism to savesome of his platoon members whowere pinned down by a Viet Congambush, gave his life in service of hiscountry at age 22.

This January, thirty-nine years later almostto the very day, Chilant Frenzell Sprague gave arefurbished patient room to Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital in memory of her onlychild. In addition, the 91-year-old Ojai residentdonated an additional $12,000 to refurbish a sec-ond room in honor of her husband, Mansfield“Mannie” Sprague.

“I love my community and this hospital andI just wanted to do something to honor my hus-band and my son,” Chilant explained.

Like her son and husband, Chilant is a rolemodel to be admired. Her generosity and actionto aid others serves as a shining example of whatindividual members of the community can do tohelp their hospital, be it at OVCH or Ventura’sCommunity Memorial Hospital.

“I would encourage anyone to renovate aroom or help buy new medical equipment,”Chilant said. “We live in a beautiful communityand giving something back can give you a beau-tiful feeling.”

On that fateful day nearly four decades ago,Herbert Frenzell was actually in a position of rel-ative safety, hidden in a tree line when theambush occurred. However, with total disregardfor his own safety, he exposed his position byopening fire in order to draw fire away from hisfellow soldiers. This selfless act allowed his pla-toon mates to escape, but when Frenzellattempted to rejoin his squad by crossing anopen marsh an enemy bullet pierced his heart.

For his valor, Frenzell earned the SilverStar and Purple Heart Medals. He was buriedin Ar l i ng ton Na t i ona l Ceme te ry i nWashington, D.C. and his name appears on theVietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Now his name appears on a plaque outsideRoom 104:

In Memory Of My Son Herbert Frenzell

Your Loving Mother Chilant Sprague

HeroTributeA to a

Chilant Frenzell Sprague

Helping CMH in its continuous effort to offerthe best healthcare possible by consistentlyinvesting in the newest technology, educationand training.


S In addition to individual tick-ets priced at $75.00 for generalseating and $95.00 for preferred(dinner included), sponsorshiplevels are available as follows:

Platinum Nugget Sponsor$10,000 Major sponsor recognition on all promotionalmaterials. They receive two complimentary tables for eight.

Gold Nugget Sponsor$5,000 Major sponsor recognition on all promotionalmaterials. They receive one complimentary table for eight.

Silver Nugget Sponsor$2,500 Prominent name recognition on all promotionalmaterials. They receive fourcomplimentary tickets.

Turquoise Sponsor$1,000 Prominent name recognition on all promotionalmaterials. They receive two complimentary tickets.

Copper Sponsor$500 Prominent name recognition on the invitation.They receive two complimentarytickets.

Buckaroo$250 Business card size advertisement. They receive onecomplimentary ticket.

The Gold Dust Gala will takeplace at Seaside Park’s San MiguelHall at the Ventura CountyFairgrounds on Saturday, May 20,2006, and more than 1,000 peopleare expected to attend. To purchase tickets, contribute anauction or gift bag item or makea donation, please contact the Foundation office at (805) 667-2881, or visit their website at www.golddustgala.com. Ticketswill also be sold at the Wharf

in Ventura. The Community Memorial

Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization withthe basic mission of providingmeaningful ways to educate thecommunity regarding the servicecapabilities of Community Mem-orial Hospital; to work with thecommunity to develop new servic-es at CMH; and to raise funds forthe development, operation andmaintenance of those services.

Get ReadyFor the 16th AnnualGold Dust Gala

Dust off your dancing shoesbecause The CommunityMemorial Healthcare Foundationis gearing up for its 16th annualGold Dust Gala!

The Foundation is pleased towelcome back headline entertain-er and country music star, PhilVassar. On the heels of his AristaNashville album, Shaken NotStirred, Vassar’s performance issure to bring the house down, justas it did three years ago. If youmissed that show, be sure to getyour tickets early this year, as folksare still raving about what was oneof the best performances theFoundation has ever hosted!

Local country band CaughtRed Handed will kick off theevening. And again this year, VanGundy Jewelers will featureDigging for Diamonds, rewardingone lucky winner with a loose cutdiamond, and all purchasers willreceive a cubic zirconia.

All proceeds from this year’sfundraising event will be usedexclusively for early breast can-cer detection with an emphasison providing mammographyexaminations for women in thecommunity who lack access tothese life saving exams. TheBreast Center at CommunityMemorial Health System willfund these tests, and other servic-es, through money raised fromdonations and proceeds from theGala.


Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation

Board of Directors

Sandra R. Masiel, PresidentKay Woodburn, Vice President

Barbara Rose, SecretaryDorothy Jue Lee, Treasurer

Gary Wilde, President & CEO

Joanie Abou-Samra Moustapha Abou-Samra, M.D.

Trudy Bale Loye Barton

Ralph R. Bennett Michael D. Bradbury

Jim Butterbaugh Bonnie Carlton

Solange Daggett Ray DiGuilio

Philip C. DrescherMichael EllingsonAnthony P. Fowkes

Dave Glyer John J. Hammer

William L. Hart, M.D. Lydia Hopps

Fritz R. Huntsinger

Marvin E. Isensee Lynn Jacobs

William J. Kearney John P. Keats, M.D. Gregory F. Lamp John Masterson

Harry L. Maynard Barbara Meister Leonard B. Ortiz

Dottie Pas Jeffrey D. Paul Jeanne Peters Tommy Slater Ken Strople

Carolyn Tedesco Dominic J. Tedesco, M.D.

Norm Weitzel Stan Whisenhunt

Bob Wiker Doug S. Wilkinson, M.D.

Gary L. Wolfe James D. Woodburn, II, M.D. James D. Woodburn, III, M.D.

S

Caring for Our Hospital and Our Community

Sandy Masiel, the CommunityMemorial Healthcare Foundation’spresident for the past five years, is so much more than a fund-rais-ing organizer for her local hospital.

The longtime Ventura resi-dent and mother of two is a citizenlike us all, someone who lives and works in our community whois fortunate to have access to a first-rate hospital and excellent medicalcare when it really mattered.

In February 2005, this pointwas driven home hard to Masiel,47, and her family when Masielwas rushed by ambulance toCMH in the middle of the night

after blacking out at home and feel-ing her heart pound hard. She wasbrought to the emergency room,then the Cardiac Care Unit, andtreated for a severely high heartrate. Masiel now enjoys goodhealth, thanks to her CMH physi-cians, nurses, medications and regular check-ups.

Masiel has been a Foundationmember for eight years, helping toraise money primarily for CMH’sBreast Center and Prostate Institute.She has always known the impor-tance of having access to an excel-lent hospital near home, and shefeels more gratified than ever

that she has helped CMH providethe highest-quality healthcare topatients.

“To be involved with the hos-pital is so worthwhile. There are sofew non-profit hospitals that havebeen able to stay open because ofcutbacks in healthcare,” Masiel said.

Masiel works in Oxnard assenior vice president and a financialadvisor at Morgan Stanley, aninvestment firm. She and husbandPaul Masiel, a Ventura City FireCaptain, are the parents ofBrandon, 20, a college student, andCollin, 12, a seventh grader.

Masiel steps down this year

as Foundation president but willcontinue to actively serve her com-munity. She also helps to raise fundsfor the hospital with theBenefactors, and she is a 22-yearmember of the Soroptomists, rais-ing education scholarships forVentura County women re-enteringthe workforce and high school stu-dents who volunteer in the com-munity.

Masiel also is a founder andmember of the Women’s LegacyFund, which supports communityprojects under the auspices of theVentura County CommunityFoundation.

Meet Foundation President Sandy Masiel

ANNUALState of the

Hospital Address

Presented By:Gary Wilde

President & CEOCommunity Memorial

Health System

5:00 PM:Welcome Reception

5:30 PM:State of the Hospital

Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd. • Ventura, CA

Please RSVP:

805-652-5492

April 20, 2006, Open to the Public

Z


Why I Support

CMHVentura Chamber of Commerce CEO, Zoe Taylor

Zoe Taylor moved toVentura from Burbank in 1996 to serve as President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber ofCommerce. Her role over the last 10 years has brought aboutmany welcomed opportunities to support Community MemorialHospital. She sums up the reasons for her support thought-fully, “CMH is a hospital that is managed by a team of very caring professionals and commu-nity leaders with a CEO that has patient care as a number onepriority.”

Through her numerous community affiliations, serving on prominent local boards and commissions, Taylor came toknow the hospital’s President and CEO, Gary Wilde, who now serves on the Chamber ofCommerce’s Board of Directors.“Gary is such a positive force for

the hospital.” Wilde participated in

Leadership Ventura, a VenturaChamber of Commerce programthat examines and finds solutionsto community issues. WhenWilde suggested to Taylor thatthey collaborate on Safe Harbor,a house owned by CMH that,once converted, will offer a pro-gram for victims of abuse, Taylorimmediately lent her support. “Ifelt this was a worthwhile pro-gram because it will providewomen and children a centerthat promotes dignity andrespect while minimizing traumaand maximizing criminal prose-cution.”

Taylor’s dealings with CMHbecame more personal in naturewhen the long-time supporterbecame a hospital patient earlylast year. After what she calls“years of abuse” with her back,

her condition became so painfulshe nearly couldn’t stand up.Her doctor immediately recom-mended surgery to repair a rup-tured disk in her lower back.

During her three days in thehospital following the surgery,Taylor received top-notch treat-ment. “The whole staff was effi-cient, friendly and caring.”

Taylor was back at work

within 4 weeks, which, thanks toregular sessions of physical ther-apy, was even sooner than she orher doctors expected. Gettingup and about quickly was a bigpriority for Taylor, so that she

could continue to fulfill work andcommunity obligations. Andwith two grown children and fourgrandchildren, she was eager tobe on her feet.

And now? “I am doingextremely well!” answered Taylor,who was the Pacific CoastBusiness Times’ 2004 SmallBusiness Advocate of the Year.

As a leader in the communi-

ty, Zoe Taylor knows how criticalit is to have a hospital that cares.“When you are in the hospital,anytime that you feel that the staffreally cared for you as a person,not just a patient, is a plus.”

“CMH is a hospital that is managed by ateam of very caring professionals andcommunity leaders with a CEO that haspatient care as a number one priority.”

Why I Support

CMH

W

IIf you’ve ever had the opportunity toset foot in Community Memorial

Hospital’s Matilda Huntsinger MemorialGarden, you already know what a lovelyspot it is. Located just off the hospital’s firstfloor, the garden’s serene setting - with it’splush green lawn, bursts of colorful flowers,statuesque bamboo trees, and awe inspir-

ing mosaic - offers an ideal place for hos-pital visitors and staff to enjoy a quiet

contemplative moment, or simplybreath a bit of fresh air.

The garden is also the focus


When considering ways tomake charitable gifts more effec-tively, many have discovered thatgifts of real estate can result in spe-cial benefits for both the donorand the recipient.

Whether property hasincreased or decreased in value,real estate can be a practical andbeneficial gift. If you are reviewingyour plans in light of recentchanges in federal tax laws or current economic conditions, thereal estate you own can offer anumber of opportunities.

If you own a home or otherproperty, you no longer wish to occupy or manage, and youwould like to make a charitablegift, you may find that a gift of such property can be a very effi-cient way to meet both goals.Regardless of whether the proper-ty has increased in value ordecreased in value there are sub-stantial benefits available to you.

If you would like to make agift of a principal residence or per-

haps a vacation home, you may doso in a way that allows you andyour spouse or another survivorthe right to enjoy the property forlife. At the same time, you wouldhave the opportunity to take acharitable deduction for the cur-rent value of the property in theyear the gift is made.

Charitable gifts of real estatemay also be made in ways thatresult in income to you for life as afixed annual amount or a variable

annual amount through the creationof a charitable remainder trust.

As you can see, your gift of real estate can be of great benefit to both you and make alasting contribution.

Please contact the Com-munity Memorial HealthcareFoundation at (805) 667-2881 formore information. As always,seek advice from your own finan-cial advisors as you plan gifts ofthis type.

Help Support CMH

of an important Foundation fund-raising effort called “Steps of Life.”Each of the thousand or so sun-set-hued bricks may be purchasedfor $100 apiece, and will then beengraved professionally with thename of a friend, family memberor other loved one as you desig-nate. The inscribed bricks offer alasting, visible means to honor,show gratitude for, or memorial-ize those who hold a special placein our hearts. What’s more, theproceeds obtained from the saleof the bricks will help fund educa-tional programs for hospital per-sonnel.

If you are interested in leav-ing a lasting legacy to the hospi-

tal, and doing something nice forsomeone you care about, you maywant to act quickly, because only a limited number of bricks areavailable.

To purchase a brick with atax deductible donation of$100 you may mail yourdonation using the enclosedenvelope and a representa-tive will contact you. Pleaseindicate that your donationis for the “Steps of Life” pro-gram. Or, please call us at(805) 667-2881.

The Gift of Real Estate

Milton and DonnaCallison, 69 and 67, own ahome in Ventura. They paid$95,000 for the propertyabout 30 years ago and today it is valued $875,000.They would like moreincome in retirement andhave thoughts of selling thehouse and investing the pro-ceeds at a conservative rateof 6% per year. If they do so,however, they must first paycapital gains tax on the saleand thus have reducedincome. Through a charita-ble remainder trust they willreceive the income from theentire $875,000 plus receive acharitable deduction in theyear of the donation.

Stepsof Life

Give andReceive

Take a Step

Ways to GiveWays to Give

The Gift of Real Estate

2006 Western Casino Night

Helping Ojai Valley Community Hospital in its continuouseffort to offer the best healthcare possible by consistentlyinvesting in the newest technology, education and training.

CWhy We Support OVCH


Calling all Cowboys andCowgirls! Git yer boots on andmosey on over to Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital Guild’sfourth annual Western Casino

Night, complete with casino-style gambling, tasty vittles, foot-stomping music, a silent auctionand raffle.

With entertainment by locallegends, The Ojai Valley Boys,and Tex-Mex fare by the valley’sown Jim and Rob’s, this year’sevent promises to be the best oneyet. Sponsored by the Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital FoundationGuild, the event will be heldSaturday, May 13th, 6:30-10:30p.m. at the Ojai Valley Inn Ranch

owner of the company. “My father, Jerve, and I joke

that we rented the office close tothe Hospital - just in case - so thatwe’d feel more comfortable in ourhigh-stress jobs,” says Kevin. Heand Jerve work as partners inJones & Jones, which manages

The Jones Family

See WWhhyy WWee SSuuppppoorrtt OOVVCCHH page 10

TThe main offices of Jones &Jones, a project management andconstruction management com-pany with an international reach,are directly across the street fromOjai Valley Community Hospital.The location is not exactly a coin-cidence, according to Kevin Jones,

construction projects from designthrough completion from Ojai toShanghai.

The Jones family construc-tion dynasty began in 1915 in LosAngeles when Kevin’s grandfatherestablished the first of severalJones companies, which over theyears built some of the largestprojects in the Los Angeles area.Kevin’s son, Cameron, now work-ing with Jones & Jones, is thefourth generation in the familybusiness. Kevin also hopes toattract his son, Aaron, to the firm.

For seven years, Kevin was inthe Far East providing construc-tion management services for anumber of clients, includingRaffles International, owners and

operators of the Raffles Hotel inSingapore. On that Far East tour,Kevin met his wife, Nan, a nativeof Thailand. The couple has beenmarried six years.

Jones & Jones will be manag-ing construction of the new OjaiPerforming Arts Theater, andKevin hopes to become involvedin the expansion of the OjaiLibrary. They are also managingconstruction of the new CalabasasCivic Center, and are now lookingat a major project in Shanghai.Kevin’s primary focus is on publicand private institutional workfrom the Central Coast to LosAngeles.

After many working visits

and Stables’ historic Rancho dosRios barn at 117 N. Creek Road.

“It’s an event that brings the whole community together.Everyone dresses up; i t ’ s a very fun evening,” remarkedthis year’s co-chair, CharleneHartenstein.

Anne Kaplan wil l joinCharlene this year in co-chairingthe event for the first time.

“We’re offering a new featurethis year: line dancing!”

Last year’s event raised over

$30,000, which went toward arecent contribution by the Guildof $87,388 to fund equipment andsupplies at the hospital.

Tickets are $65.00 per person and include dinner, onedrink and gambling funny money.What better way to support acritical service provider in the val-ley and enjoy an entertainingevening at the same time? Call (805) 640-2317 for moreinformation and to purchase tickets.

Kevin, Nan, Alice & Jerve Jones

Great Fun and a Great Way to Support OVCH


Ren & Victoria AdamPhil & Tucker AdamsDolli AlexanderJune Allyson AshrowEdna Mae AmendDon Anderson & Nita Whaley Ted & Delores AngusFrankie AnthonyJulieta ArceoMatilda ArmstrongRonald ArruejoRoss & Patricia AtkinsonRobert AvilesBerit AxelssonR. F. AyresHerman & Ursula BaertschiBerkley & Suzanne BakerEdward & Mary Ann BalabanClaude & Jean BallMaurice Bamberger & Hazan

SamaniegoCharles & Marabeth BarkmanChuck BarnettGary & Kate BarnhartMirko & Silvia BasichElizabeth BauerDr. James Todd & Alicia BeatyGregory BecherAnn BedauAnn MarieBehrendtAlan & Kristen BellCarol & Paul BelserGeorge E. BergStuart BerggrenNorman BergmanJack & Gayle BertschDonald & Mary BetlachTheresa BillingsleyAndy & Sharon BisacciaB. J. BlackwellKeith BlairLeonard & Patricia BlockJulianne Bloomer & Scot RabeLori Bolton-ByerRobert Bonewitz & Ruth LasellWilliam BooneLance & Kimberly BoyerJeff & Beckaa BradfordMaurice BralleyNorma BranchDaniel & Victoria BreenPriscilla BrennanScott BrewerMichael & Michele BrileyElena BrokawJames & Lee BrownStanford & Eleanor BrownWilliam & Velda BrownBuchman FamilyThelma BurmanMary Ann BurrightPeter & Mel Calvin

Allen & Marilyn CampDebra CampbellAndrew & Laura CarlsonMary CarsonScott CarsonDavid & Melodie CatlettJoe & Emily ChaconEsta ChapmanAlice ChesleyClaire ClarkAustin & Sharon ClineConnie ClineCathy CluffDonald & Sheila CluffSidney & Sheila CohnFredrick Coleman, IVCorinne CollinsJames & Dorothy CombsCarl & Jody CooperPeter & Ann CostiganCarmen CostsisOra Lee CoxThomas & Dorothy CrossmanBruce & Diana CrothersGregory CulbertPhillip & Betty CulbertKen & Jackie CurryRobert DaddiDuane DammeyerRobert DautchRobert Calder & Greta DavisJim DawsonJosephine De LeonPaul & Clayre De MidioAnthony & Roslyn DemariaRobert & Amy DennisVickey & Will Des LauriersJudith & Don DiazNicolette DiazJoseph DickeyDavid & Sally DiscoElaine DonnellyAlan & Jacqueline DorfmanMarcia Doty & Celeste

MatesevacChristine & Sanford DruckerIrmgard DubayNicole DubeauFrank & Pauline DuffyBentley & Clara DunwoodyJean EasleyPaul EbertSandra EckelsSimone EckerDr. & Mrs. John EdisonCraig & Deborah EdwardsOrville & Lillian EdwardsRoberta EdwardsMonica EguezJack & Artenia EllingerMichael EllingsonKatherine Erickson

Marilyn EssickCathy L. EstillWilliam & Karen EvendenRuth FarnhamGary & Brenda FarrDr. Fred & Shirle FauvreJack & Marge FayKenneth & Louanne FayKatie FellowsJames & Kristen FinchRaymond & Debra FlowersEmilio & Katherine FontanaBoyd & Maxine FordMaidie ForsterTerence FosterKathleen & Patricia FrancisNic & Susanne FrankStephen & Karen FrankFred & Katrina FrapeRichard Fulton, M.D.Deborah GallagherDonald & Maggie GarrettGeorge & Maxine GarveyRalph & Dorothy GatesWilliam & Karen GhormleyMichael & Amy GilmoreBarry GlassHarriet GlassRichard & Joan GlennRomelio GonzalezHelene GordonEmmett GosnellRichard Gould, M.D.Carl & Katie GravesCharles GriswoldDennis GuernseyDennis & Jennifer GuernseyLarry & Maj HagmanMichael & Carol Hall-MounseyDr. James & Robyn HalversonLeo HammerschmittWilliam & Nancy HammondMarvin & Patty HansonWhitley & Helen HarrisWyatt Harris, D.D.S.Dr. Ken & Charlene

HartensteinBrian HaworthHerbert & Julia HawthorneRichard & Velvet HellerMichelle HensonOliver HessPriscilla HickmanVirginia HillDr. Anthony & Barbara HirschGerben HoeksmaWilliam & Aurora HollandJohn & Judy HooperGary & Mary Sue HorganRikki Horne & Rudy PetersdorfElizabeth HortonThomas & Dorothy Horton

Stanley & Wendy HubbellKathleen HuberJane HublerRosalynn L. HuntRobert HunterCarolyn HuntsingerRichard HustedCharles & Willa IrwinJames JacksonMichael & Carol JacksonRamona JacksonAllan Jacobs JaspaPhilip JevanianHerschel & Norma JohnsonWilloughby Johnson & Victoria

MatthewsColin & Cindy JonesJerve & Alice JonesKevin & Nan JonesWendy JonesAnn DerbyJoyGerald & Anne KaplanStan & Hallie KatzMary KazmerH. Lindy Kell, D.D.S.Arlene KelleyJoan KemperGeraldine KennonJames & Roberta KerwinOatley KidderJohn & Martie KingJerry & Marilyn KinyonMarjorie KiphutTom KrauseKathleen KreitsekMelvin & Yvette KroghZelda KunkleEugenia LambertJonathan & Linda LambertRoger LancasterRex & Heidi LanningElizabeth LashbrookRoberta LatimerDonald & Linda LawGerald LeavittCraig & Karen LewisBarbara LindseyRonald & Cherry LoeDorothy LoeblMaren LongRichard LozaDavid & Lisa LuckenbachDaniel LukasiewiczEric LundBent & Else LundbyeMike & Nancy LurieDr. Ian & Virginia MacLeanJames & Jackie MaloneEdwin & Jacqueline MarksDon & Elaine MarshallRobert & Airdrie Martin

Mitchell MashburnJohn & Ann MasonAnne & Katarina MatesevacBetty MatsonFranklin MayfieldCarol McCormickThomas & Janice McCormickDwayne & Susan McCullochCraig & Mary McDonaldJulie McFaddenSteven & Chris McLeanAntoinette McLennanPam McMillanGeorge & Peggy MeltonWilma MelvilleJerry MendelsohnHeather MendozaDr. Fredrick & Margaret

MenningerFrank MessanaLeo MeyerMary MilitelloBurkhard & Evangeline MollBarry MolonyJo Ann MonakRay & Virginia MoonJohn D. Moon, Jr.Hal & Catherine MooreRichard & Gail MooreLaurie MorganCharles Morrey, IIICharles MorrisStephan J.M. & Anne MorrisWilliam & Marguerite MorsJohn MothersheadTed & Dale MuegenburgDoloris MungoMae MurphyBarbara MuskaDavid & Barbara NakadaSandra NellesJohn Nelson, M.D.Joan NicholsonBetty NielsenKeith & Victoria NightingaleMarilyn NoadCharles & Nancy NordstromThomas D. & Yvonne OdleHarry & Ann OppenheimerThomas & Julie OyanDeitrich PahnkeJackie PahnkeShirley PalmerDonald ParkJoyce ParkelRichard ParsonsLuce PatricoloEdwin & Claire PaulsonWilliam & Laura PeckNancy PepperAntoinette PerrouRonald & Linda Phillips

We apologize for any omissions or misspellings.

Friends &DONORSOjai Valley Community Hospital appreciates themany generous gifts from our friends.Contributions to the Foundation benefit ourcommunity in many ways.

We gratefully acknowledge the followingcontributions received between October 1, and December 31, 2005.


Wayne PickerellDr. Martin & Barbara PopsOral & Winona PottsHollie PriddyEdwin ProcterAnnat ProvoDr. William & Mrs. Judith PughAlexa PulleyMary QuijadaDeborah QuinnEarl & Alice RaglandAlan & Jan RainsAlice RainsLakshman Rasiah, M.D.Dan & Mara ReddenSidney & Jayne RiceRonald RichardConnie RimpaMark & Dawn RobbinsRobert A. RoddickSuzanne RollTom RooneyJay & Barbara RoskeJudy RossHarold W. RuddickJohn & Peggy RussellAgnes Ryan

Violet RyderDonna SaenzRebecca Sarate-ZarateMary Liz SaviniDonald & Ann ScanlinChristine SchaffelsMartin & Nancy SchechtmanDietrich & Valerie SchmidtClella SchneiderRosemary SchumacherDarwin & Jennie ScottPaula ScottWilliam & Penny SechrestLu SetnickaDave SettemMarvin ShagamTim ShatesRobert & Patricia ShawTom & Karen SheehanDorothy Shirley SheltonMarilee ShermanFrancis ShieldsWilliam & Dolores ShouseJoseph SignorinoMoises SilvaRigmore SilvaCharles & Linda Simon

Sally & Steve SimpsonHarry & Margery SimsNate SinclairDavid & Edie SkaggsShari SkinnerJeffrey & Pegi SkoffMichael & Denise SmallCarol SmithDolores SmithGraham & Leeanne SmithJessica SmithRandy & Sherry SmithRobert SmithHenry & Martha SnyderDan SomaDr. Daniel & Edie SommerWilliam SpellmanMansfield & Chilant SpragueDelena StarrHilton & Phyllis StemwedelElsie StewartMargaret StiegelePaula SuddesDr. & Mrs. Leo TauberNell TaylorJohn & Caroline ThacherCarl & Katie Thelander

Charles & Charlotte ThompsonHazel TimbrookCharlotte Louise TittleMary EllenTolottiBurt & Cheryl TownsendDavid & Mary TrudeauJames & Sally TrueGary TullRosalyn TuttleFrederick & Marion TwichellDean & Gloria VadnaisFred Van WingerdenLucille VaughnSherry & Victor VizcainoEugene & Kathryn VolkerdingJakob & Marianne VosThomas & Esther WachtellFred & Janet WachterSteven & Adelfa WagnerEldon & Eileen WalkerJudy WalkerBarbara WatsonDon & Barbara WeberMartin WeinerRichard & Jane WeirickJacquelyn WelshAllan & Joyce West

J.B. WhiteAshley White-BrownJim & Martha WhitledgeJohn & Nancy WhitmanLillian WierzelMr. & Mrs. Charles WilcoxThomas & Alison WilcoxGary & Cheryl WildeLarry WildeStephen & Stephanie WilkRuth WillettJulie WilliamsJohn & Ginger WilsonMary Lou WingateGary & Ann WolfeTimothy & Teresa WolfeRoy & Jan WorshamMr. & Mrs. David WratherTerry & Cynthia WrightWard & Margaret WrightHerbert & Sue Scott YagerMartin & Doree YoungMareen & Dudley Zoll

Companies&FoundationsIn Memoryof

In Honorof

Arie & Ida Crown MemorialAssisted Home Recovery, Inc.Behavioral Science Technology,

Inc.Century 21 Buena VistaCrooked Creek RanchForest PharmaceuticalsHalite SteelHelp Unlimited HomeCareImages & Illusions StudioInside Track

The Kindred SpiritKrogh Construction &

EngineeringMedical Arts PharmacyMerrill LynchMid-State Bank & TrustThe Morse & Sadie Gould

FoundationThe Oaks at OjaiOjai Community BankOjai Family Podiatry Clinic

Ojai Medical EquipmentOjai Rexall DrugsOjai Valley Emergency

Physicians Med Grp, IncOjai Valley Inn & SpaPueblo Radiology Medical

Group, IncRainbow BridgeSuzanne's CuisineWaite, Jacobs & AtkinsonWilde-Guernsey, Inc.

Edward Amend– Edna Mae Amend

Conley Anthony– Frankie Anthony, Carl &

Katie ThelanderHugo A. Bedau

– Mrs. Ann BedauBernard Behrendt

– Ann Marie BehrendtKermit Burman

– Thelma BurmanHeather Dickey

– Joseph DickeyDr. Larry Easley

– Jean EasleyRobert Essick

– Marilyn Essick John D. Farnham

– Ruth FarnhamLt. Col. Joseph J. Giuliani

– Dolores SmithHelen Gray

– Charles & Linda SimonJarvis Gulbransen

– Charlotte Louise TittleLeonard Hunt

– Rosalynn L. HuntCarl Huntsinger

– Carolyn HuntsingerLucille Ivie

– Rosemary SchumacherAlice Jevanian

– Philip JervanianHailey Good Kennon

– Geraldine KennonDr. & Mrs. Robert Komura

– June Allyson AshrowEdward R. Lambert, M.D.

– Eugenia Lambert

Richard Latimer– Roberta Latimer

Freddie & Louise Menninger– Julianne Bloomer

Kit Mungo– Doloris Mungo

Ken Nielsen– Mrs. Betty Nielsen

“Our Parents”– Don & Elaine Marshall

David Parker– Kathleen & Patricia Francis

Chemo Quijada– Mary Quijada

Tom Schneider– Clella Schneider

Clara Shagam– Marvin Shagam

Rose Siegel– Carol Smith

Lupe Silva– Moises Silva

J.T. Starr– Delana Starr

John Stewart– Elise Stewart

Hazel Timbrook– Mary Ann Burright

Otho (Pete) Vaughn– Lucille Wierzel

Ernest V. Watson– Barbara Watson

Tony Wierzel– Lillian Wierzel

Herbert Wittenbrock– Leo Meyer

Dorothy Zuker– Nancy Pepper

Emergency Staff at OjaiValley Community Hospital–Josephine DeLeon

Members of the Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital

Foundation–Jerry Mendelsohn

Dr. James Halverson–Thomas & DorothyHorton

Kim Shaw–Rosalyn Tuttle

Dr. Tim Williamson–Allen & Marilyn Camp

Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation truly plays a majorrole in OVCH’s sincere ongoing “Commitment to Caring.” Bysupporting the Foundation, you are not only making an invest-ment in the health and well being of Ojai Valley residentstoday, but are also helping ensure a healthy future as well.

For further information on gift opportunities, call the Foundation office at (805) 640-2317.

Giving BackGiving Back

ANNUALState of the

Hospital Address


Ms. Whaley is a past presidentof the Ojai Valley Library Friendsand Foundation, serving at a piv-otal period with the Library sup-port group as it worked to establishhomework centers and secure pri-vate funding. She has just complet-ed a two-year term as chair of the Education Committee for the Ojai Music Festival.

Serving as a state certifiedcounselor on Medicare issues, sheprovides health insurance counsel-ing at Help of Ojai, as well as per-forming other volunteer servicesfor the nonprofit social servicesorganization, which serves personsof all ages, primarily seniors. Shewrites a monthly column on seniorhealth insurance concerns for theOjai Valley News.

Ms. Whaley is currently in hersecond term on the AdvisoryCouncil of the Ventura CountyArea Agency on Aging, now serv-ing as secretary. She and her hus-band, Don Anderson, teach a mem-ory improvement course under auspices of the Ojai Rotary Club.

Since its inception, Ms.Whaley has been involved withthe Hospital Foundation Guild,handling publicity for severalfundraising events and serving forthe past year on the Guild Boardas program chair.

As a member of the new OjaiValley Community HospitalFoundation Board of Directors, Ms. Whaley says she’s excited tobe working with such a talentedand committed group of people. “I

share the Foundation’s vision ofhelping to establish the Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital as a top-rated medical institution in termsof quality of patient care, physicianservices and facilities,” she adds.

She hopes to use her com-munications skills and experienceto help broaden support for thehospital. “Community supportand financial participation areessential to realizing our vision,and to continue enjoying theconvenience, caring and servicesof a local hospital,” she says.

Although her time for hobbies is limited these days, Ms.Whaley is a person of manyinterests: the arts, travel, reading,crossword puzzles, cooking and gardening.

Presented By:

Gary WildePresident & CEO

Community MemorialHealth System

Gary FarrVice Chairman

Ojai Valley CommunityHospital Foundation

4:30 PM:Welcome Reception5:00 PM:State of the Hospital

Why We Support OVCHContinued from page 7

St. Thomas Aquinas Church Hall 185 St. Thomas Dr. • Ojai, CA

Please RSVP:

805-640-2355

April 6, 2006, Open to the Public

and vacations in Ojai, Jerve andAlice (Kevin’s mother) decided tomove to Ojai from Los Angelesten years ago, followed by Kevinand Nan in 2003.

Kevin, an outdoorsman andavid equestrian, says Ojai was aperfect fit for him and Nan, whoenjoy riding their horses and tak-ing hikes in the local mountains.Both generations of the familyenjoy the antics of Kevin andNan’s two dogs, Conrad and Lilah,which Kevin says are “endearing,comical and mischievous.”

Jerve and Alice had beenactive supporters of the Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital, and when

Kevin and Nan arrived, they fol-lowed suit, joining the OVCHFoundation Guild. “We enjoy thequality of the people in Ojai, particu-larly those who have had the visionto save and maintain our hospital,which is extremely important to thisValley,” says Kevin.

“Many families such as theRains, Russells, Wests, Kempers,Hirsches, Farrs and Pops’ had theforesight to preserve our acute carefacilities. That is a principal concernof my family, too. We are pleased tobe part of the larger team now withCMHS. It is a quality group. We areglad Gary Wilde is leading theteam.”

SSince arriving in Ojai in1991, Nita Whaley has beenalmost as busy in community volunteering - much of it in lead-ership roles - as she was in herlong career as a communicationsprofessional in the private, non-profit and governmental sectors.

What keeps her going atwarp speed? “The quality of lifewe enjoy in Ojai depends to alarge extent on people in the community being willing toparticipate in nonprofit organiza-tions and share their time, creativity and expertise,” saysMs. Whaley. “My reward isknowing that I have contributedor given something back to thiscommunity and have helped myneighbors in some way.”

Meet Foundation Director Nita Whaley

More and more surgeons at topmedical centers like CommunityMemorial Hospital are using high-tech, remotely guided robotic armsfor everything from surgery, remov-ing cancerous prostates to aiding inheart surgery.

At CMH, general surgeons ConstanzeRayhrer and Gosta Iwasiuk are breaking newground by using the da Vinci robotics system forcolon surgery as well. The new surgical tech-niques they developed have helped them suc-cessfully operate together on at least 17 colon

geons perform minimally invasive surgery — theyuse small cuts rather than a huge incision — withthe aid of three-dimensional imaging for a betterview and robotic arms that precisely copy theirmovements. The robot cuts, grasps, cauterizesand stitches inside the body as the specially-trained surgeons control the robot. Robotic sur-gery patients tend to lose less blood, suffer lesstrauma to their bodies, and recover faster.

Dr. Rayhrer’s and Dr. Iwasiuk’s patients hadparts of their colon removed, using the robot,due to colon cancer, disease, infection or inflammation of the colon. All were released earlier from the hospital than traditional surgerypatients, and the patients were able to eat andreturn to work faster than surgery patients whohad large incisions.

“It’s a really dramatic difference,” said Dr.Rayhrer.


patients in thepast year.

“It’s some-thing unique that

we’re doing,” said Dr.Rayhrer.

In fact, using therobot for colon surgery is

so new that Dr. Rayhrercould not find any published

articles on it in American surgi-cal journals. Dr. Iwasiuk had to

travel to Illinois to view a similarprocedure. No surgeons in

California were using the robot forcolorectal surgery.

Until now, the da Vinci robotics sys-tem has mostly been used in the areas of

urology for prostate surgery, gynecology andcardiac surgery. Now, its applications are

expanding as leading surgeons like Drs. Rayhrerand Iwasiuk perfect new techniques.

“We are excited to see CMH emerge as aleading hospital on the West Coast in applyingda Vinci robotics technology to colorectal surgery,” said Ryan Rhodes, senior marketingdirector of the robot’s manufacturer, IntuitiveSurgical Inc. of Sunnyvale, which tracks all newmedical applications of its da Vinci system.

“These two surgeons haveemerged as leaders in applying thistechnology to colorectal surgery,”Rhodes said.

In late 2004, CMH became the first hospitalbetween Los Angeles and San Francisco to installand use the da Vinci system that is revolutioniz-ing surgery around the world. With da Vinci, sur-

ROBOTAssisted SurgeryBreaking New Ground for Colon Patients

the da Vinci robot save my life, they saved thequality of my life. I’m thrilled CMH was smartenough to buy this robot,” said Alcott.

Alcott is such a believer in using the robotfor colorectal surgery that she produced a half-hour show detailing her experience with roboticsurgery for her regular public-access cable televi-sion show called “LOVE” (“Loving Our VenturaExperience”) that airs several times a week onChannel 6 in Ventura. LOVE focuses on healthand wellness issues, and now Marci Grace is thestory.

She interviewed Dr. Iwasiuk and his surgicalpartner Dr. Rayhrer for the show, and calls them,“a dynamite team.” The segment also includestaped clips of her surgery.

“These doctors are right here in Ventura.You don’t have to go to L.A. or San Francisco toget these surgeons. And they are at the top oftheir field.”

In late 2004, Marci Grace Alcottcould no longer handle the terriblepain she felt in her abdomen.

The Ventura woman was diagnosed withdiverticulitis, or inflammation of the colon due tosmall fissures and tears in her colon, which

Qualityof

Life

Dr. Constanze Rayhrer Dr. Gosta Iwasiuk

a da Vincisuccess story

caused chronic, extreme infections. Surgery was needed, and after Alcott visited

general surgeon Dr. Gosta Iwasiuk, he recom-mended surgery using CMH’s da Vinci robot.Alcott had heard about the many benefits topatients, so she agreed. She had been told thattraditional surgery using a large incision acrossher abdomen to remove the diseased part of thecolon would require a six-to-eight-week recoverytime.

She went with the robot, and hasn’t regret-ted her decision.

More than a foot of Alcott’s colon wasremoved on a Thursday last May during roboticsurgery, using five small incisions. Alcott, 56,went home from CMH the following Sundayand was back at work a week after her operation.

She feels great, the pain is gone, and she caneat anything she wants without getting sick.

“Not only did CMH and the doctors and

CMH Physicians with privileges trainedto use the da Vinci robotic system.

General Surgery: Dr. Constanze Rayhrer, Dr. Gosta Iwasiuk, Dr. Helmuth Billy, Dr. Doug WoodburnUrology: Dr. Marc Beaghler, Dr. Cedric Emery,Dr. William Klope, Dr. Paul Silverman.

QCARING | COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM12

for this year in continuing to improve the trust of the medical staff and its relationship with the hospital, and to enhance communication. Isaw a big deficit in the past on how leadershipdidn’t disseminate information as readily as itshould have to the medical staff. I want thewhole medical staff to have access to importantadvances and the exciting relationship we nowhave with the administration. I really look forward to getting the information out.

Dr. Menninger: Primarily to complete the transition and strengthen the relationship of thetwo medical staffs since the merger. It is veryeasy to sign the papers and make them part ofone health system, but there needs to be an infra-structure for integration that is ongoing to bothhospitals. I need to be a facilitator in that regardand work to enhance that.

Caring: In light of the past conflict between physicians and administration at CMH, how is the current relationship between physicians and administration?

Dr. Frochtzwajg: It’s like talking about applesand oranges. There is no comparison betweenwhat we have now and what we had prior. Thecurrent administration has all the hallmarks necessary to strengthen the relationship: trans-parency, honesty, enhanced communications,and support of the medical staff . Because of theexcellent communicative skills at the administra-tive level and the philosophy of the administra-tion, we really have a medical staff that hasbought in to cooperatively working with thehospital administration

Caring: How will you as Chief of Staff at CMHcontinue to develop this better relationship?

Dr. Frochtzwajg: Our medical staff leadershipmeets twice a month with Gary Wilde, our hos-

The Chiefs of Staff atCommunity MemorialHospital and Ojai ValleyCommunity Hospital sat down for a spirited discussion with Caringabout the two hospitals following the January board meeting of theCommunity MemorialHealth System trustees.

Dr. Stan Frochtzwajg, Chief of Staff atCMH, has been in family practice for 26 yearsand has been on the CMH staff the entire time.He was educated at UCLA and the UC IrvineMedical School, with his residency at theVentura County Medical Center.

Dr. Frochtzwajg lives in Ventura with wife,Heidi. They have two sons, Gabriel, who attendsUC Berkeley and Daniel, who attends VenturaCollege.

Dr. Fredrick Menninger III, Chief of Staff atOVCH, has been an orthopedist for 18 years inOjai and Ventura, and has been on the staffs ofOVCH and CMH the entire time.

He lives in Ojai with his wife, Margaret. Heis a graduate of the University of Arizona and theUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical School.

Caring: What is your focus for the coming year asChief of Staff ?

Dr. Frochtzwajg: I see my job and biggest goal

pital President/CEO, usually for at least twohours. He brings us up to speed on issues that aregoing on at the hospital, as well as any up-and-coming concerns. He enhances that communi-cation with a physicians advisory committeewhich is composed of about 25 members of themedical staff representing almost all the depart-ments of the hospital.

Caring: Dr. Menninger, you’ve been on medical staff at both hospitals. Do you see any difficulty in strengthening the relationship of the two staffs?

Dr. Menninger: In theory, there are potential difficulties. But in reality, many if not all, of the physicians who are on staff at OVCH hadat least training relationships with many of thepractitioners at CMH, and most of the physicians in Ojai have or have had staff privileges at CMH. Will we ever be joined asone medical staff? Apparently there is a rulethat dictates to California hospital boards thatthere can’t be a single medical staff. We canshare many committees and many relation-ships but we can’t be one staff.

Caring: So there will continue to be Chiefs of Staffat both hospitals?

Dr. Menninger: Yes. My tenure as Chief of Staff at OVCH is for two years. At CMH

Dr. Fredrick Menninger III

ChiefConcerns

ACOMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM | CARING 13

they serve one year, but they keep the past chief and the chief-elect on the board, whichenhances staff representation on the board at thehospital.

Caring: What are the challenges in recruiting new,young doctors to the staffs at CMH and OVCH?

Dr. Frochtzwajg: It is definitely a problem - bothlocally and nationally - but, most acutely a problem in California where housing costs are sohigh. It doesn’t take much to do the math.

Dr. Menninger: In Ojai specifically, the econom-ics are such that you can’t guarantee the oppor-tunity to have a nice place to live. The econom-ics of buying a house are staggering. I could notafford to buy a house in the area if I was juststarting a practice here.

Caring: What are some of the advantages of integrating the two facilities?

Dr. Frochtzwajg: There are a number of advan-tages. First of all, it expands our footprint. Peoplein the Ojai Valley will look at OVCH as a hospital that has served them well for years, andis now even stronger because of its associationwith CMH. Number two, the ability to transferpatients from the Ojai Valley for those who needmore intensive care to CMH is also a bonus.We no longer call ourselves Community

Memorial Hospital. We are now CommunityMemorial Health System, and that’s a nice tran-sition. It makes us stronger to be a bigger system.

Dr. Menninger: One additional asset is thatOVCH has a skilled nursing facility connectedwith it. It affords an extra option for CMH tohave a place for transitional patients who stillneed attention but not necessarily acute care.

Caring: How accessible is the hospital administra-tion and the trustees to the community?

Dr. Frochtzwajg: The community will support useven more if they have a sense that we are head-ed in the right direction, and that we have sepa-rated from past behavior. Residents of Venturahave the ability to speak directly with the admin-istrator of the hospital, and with board membersindividually.

This is a unique and wonderful opportunityhere, and I’m going to sing that tune to the med-ical staff and anyone else I can because we needto preserve what we have. We have a wonderfulnon-profit, community-based hospital that pro-vides high quality patient care.

Dr. Menninger: People in Ojai do have thatoption to make an impact. The names of thetrustees are listed. The administrators areapproachable.

Caring: How important is community involvementand support for your hospital?

Dr. Menninger: It is critically important that thecommunity view these two facilities as a health-care delivery system that the community wantsto be involved with. There are a host of thingsthat community members can do as volunteers,and through financial support.

Dr. Frochtzwajg: We’re only as good as the com-munity that supports us. We do not drawpatients from Los Angeles or Santa Barbara. So,if we do not have the confidence of the commu-nity, people will seek healthcare elsewhere and itwill hurt the hospital. We need to instill in ourcommunity a sense of allegiance and alliancewith the hospital, and a trust with the communi-ty that only can occur with good quality medicalcare. People will know that by their own experi-ences. We have to have a rapport with the com-munity based on our performance, and that’swhere we must make sure our level of care com-petes with the very best. Otherwise, we will notbe supported by the community.

Caring: Any last thoughts?

Dr. Menninger: I appreciate the opportunity toshare these ideas with the community. I look for-ward to a productive year and the developmentof our relationship between OVCH and CMH.The medical staff will benefit from this relation-ship, but most importantly the broader commu-nity will benefit.

Dr. Frochtzwajg: My big emphasis is that I’mreally impressed with the doctors with whom Iwork. We have a medical staff composed ofphysicians who have shown remarkable dedica-tion to patients’ quality of care and to this hospi-tal. And, ninety percent of these physiciansspend countless additional hours serving oncommittees devoted to improving care.

Not only that, these same physicians whodedicate hundreds of hours and so much effortand energy in taking care of our communityalso end up staying in the forefront of medicalknowledge and expertise and deliver a wonder-ful level of care which never ceases to impressme. I’ve gone to other hospitals and have seenhow the care is there; well-known, respectedhospitals. And I can honestly say that I’m often-times more impressed with the care I see here,than at well-known, respected hospitals. I seethe physicians here as looking upon theirpatients as their neighbors, as people theybump into at the grocery store and as theirfriends. I think that’s a wonderful, wonderfulformula that we have here. It’s hard to repro-duce anywhere else.

Dr. Stanley Frochtzwajg

Our physicianshave shownremarkable dedication to patients’quality of care.

followed by six weeks of recovery. An implantsurgery, on the other hand, usually requires onlya one-night hospital stay (and sometimes caneven be done as an outpatient) with a three-weekrecovery.

Yet another decision facing the patient, andher doctor, is between ImmediateReconstruction (which begins at the time of themastectomy and thus may mean one fewer oper-ation) and Delayed Reconstruction. “The trendnow is to wait and complete all the treatment forcancer,” explains Dr. Bern.

Whether it is Immediate or Delayed, cur-rently about 80 percent of mastectomy patientschoose to have some type of reconstruction sur-gery. Of these patients, about 70 percent choosethe implant course of action which actuallyrequires two to three separate operations. First, atemporary tissue expander is implanted. This bal-loon-like device is then slowly filled with a saline-water solution every two weeks until the skinover the breast area has stretched enough toaccommodate the desired implant.

In the next operation, the tissue expander isreplaced with the saline-filled or silicone-gelimplant. A third surgery may be desired to createa nipple and areola.

Despite requiring two to three operationsover a four to six month period, studies reveal themajority of women who undergo breast recon-struction are happy they did so.

“The overall satisfaction with any techniqueof reconstruction is more than 90 percent,” Dr.Bern points out, adding: “It is great to see apatient feel better about herself afterwards.”

artery in his neck as part of an

ongoing medical study to test the firststent of its kind used to treat carotid artery

disease.CMH was one of about 100 hospitals

nationwide chosen last year to participate in thestudy conducted by Guidant Corp., usingGuidant’s new ACCULINK carotid stent.Guidant’s ACCULINK Carotid Stent System isdesigned specifically for use in the carotid artery,and can help high-risk patients avoid a morerisky major surgery.

Vascular surgeon Dr. C. Shawn Skillern is


For many women who have hada mastectomy, breast reconstructionsurgery can do more than rebuildthe breast contour; it very oftenrebuilds the patient’s self-esteem.

“Most patients say there is a great psycho-logical benefit,” notes Dr. Samuel Bern, a boardcertified plastic and reconstructive surgeon whohas practiced at Community Memorial Hospitalsince 1992. “They say (breast) reconstructionhelps their confidence and self-esteem. They alsothink less about cancer when getting dressed.”

Furthermore, studies reveal that womenwho have breast reconstructive surgery sufferless depression than those who don’t.

Still, Dr. Bern is quick to point out thatbreast reconstruction is not for every mastecto-my patient: “It’s definitely a very personal deci-sion.”

For those women who do make the decision to have breast reconstruction, theoptions today are many, including choosingbetween an implant and a TRAM flap procedurethat uses extra skin, muscle and fat from the tummy area. If the former option is selected,another decision is choosing a saline-filledimplant or one filled with silicone-gel.

One factor often weighing into the saline-versus-silicone decision is recovery time. TheTRAM flap procedure is a larger operation andtypically requires four or five days in the hospital

CMH’s participating physician in the Guidantprogram. He said using these new stents hashelped patients avoid traditional and riskier surgery in which the plaque that clogs the arteryis removed directly from the artery through an incision.

The stent procedures, Dr. Skillern said,“reflect the continuing and evolving change inthe treatment of patients with vascular disease.The trend is for less and less invasive proceduresaccomplishing the same goals.”

Guidant representative Martin Rodriguezadded, “This gives the doctor another option.Before there were no alternatives.”

Guidant Corp., located in Temecula,California is a world leader in the design anddevelopment of cardiovascular medical prod-ucts. Guidant chose CMH to participate in itsnew stent study for many reasons, Rodriguezsaid. CMH is among the best hospitals in the

RISKRISKREDUCING

Having a stent implanted toopen a blocked artery was nothingnew to Mr. Joy Stevens. Mr. Stevenshad stents previously placed in hisheart several years ago following aheart attack.

But last summer, the Ventura man becamethe first patient at Community MemorialHospital to have a stent implanted in the carotid

CMH Takes the Leadin Ground Breaking Carotid Stent Study

FeelingGood

Rebuilding YourSelf-Esteem after

a MastectomyDr. Samuel Bern

Polypharmacy

Polypharmacy


“thin her blood.” Due to her poor eyesight, shegot the pink pills confused and was hospitalizedfor too much blood thinner. It’s embarrassing toadmit that this can happen to the mother of apharmacist, but it shows that no one is immune tothe problems of polypharmacy.

We may not be able to eliminate polyphar-macy, but some steps can be taken to make itsafer. Learn the names of your medications andwhy you take them. Make a medication list, andinclude doses and frequencies. Also include sup-plements, vitamins, and non-prescription med-ications. Update the list after each doctor visit.Carry the list everywhere — you never knowwhen an emergency hospital visit might occur.Take the list and your medication bottles whenyou visit ANY physician, even your eye doctor.All your healthcare providers should be familiarwith your medication list.

If possible, get your prescriptions filled atthe same pharmacy, and request a periodic med-ication review by your pharmacist and physician.Ask the pharmacist for advice on the selection ofnon-prescription drugs that could be safely takenwith your current medications. To avoid mis-takes, be sure to throw out old, outdated andunused medication. With a little effort, many ofthe problems of polypharmacy can be avoided.Let’s all eliminate that four-trash-bag level ofmedication use.

I taught at Moorpark College formany years, and one incident comesto mind that best illustrates multiplemedication use or “polypharmacy.”A student asked if I would review her mother’smedications for potential problems. I agreed, andthe following week I was confronted with fourlarge garbage bags of medication dating backmany years from several pharmacies and at leasteight different doctors. It was apparent why thestudent’s mother was having problems.

The word “polypharmacy” was coined forsuch situations. It is often used in a derogatorysense, but the truth is, multiple medication use is apresent day fact-of-life. We have the mind-set thatif one has an ailment, a medication can fix it. Highcholesterol, nasal allergies, heartburn, headache,

arthritis — whatever the affliction, there’s a drug totreat it, and that mind-set is not going to change.

But polypharmacy isn’t necessarily bad.Conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes are appropriately treated withseveral drugs. Problems arise when medicationsare duplicated or unnecessary, when doses are toohigh, when side effects are enhanced, and whendrug-drug interactions occur. Sometimes takingmultiple drugs becomes too complicated andresults in non-compliance or inappropriate use.This can increase the risk of hospitalization.

For example, antihistamines, pain medica-tions, and certain blood pressure medicationscan cause drowsiness. By themselves, this maynot be a problem, but taking them together mayresult in over-sedation. We may look at UncleLeo and assume he’s slowing down because he’sgetting old. Perhaps the only thing slowing himdown is his medications. Other problems ofpolypharmacy can include constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, confusion, falls, depres-sion or lack of interest in usual activities, weakness, dizziness, anxiety or excitability, anddecreased sexual behavior.

In addition, the more medications one takes,the greater the chance for mistakes. Several yearsago, that happened to my mother. In her words,she was taking a pink pill twice a day for highblood pressure and another pink pill once a day to

PolypharmacyPolypharmacy

PHARMACIST

CORNERby Gary Metalak, CMH Pharmacist

tri-counties; Ventura and Santa Barbara coun-ties have many patients who could potentiallybenefit; and CMH has on staff an expert sur-geon like Dr. Skillern, who was already experi-

enced in implantingstents in other parts ofthe body.

Dr. Skillern wasamong the first surgeonsspecially trained to usethe new ACCULINKstent, and he remains oneof the few vascular sur-geons in Southern Cal-ifornia trained to use it.CMH was also the firsthospital between LosAngeles and SanFrancisco to do thecarotid stent procedure.

Carotid artery stenting is a minimally inva-sive procedure in which a physician uses a com-bination of balloon angioplasty and a stentimplant to unblock and reopen the blocked

carotid artery to help prevent strokes. The stent,made from crush-resistant nickel-titanium, isintroduced into the body in a guiding catheterthrough a small puncture in the groin. The stentis guided to the carotid artery for placementwhile the physician sees the activity in an X-ray.Following the procedure, patients typically gohome from the hospital after an overnight stay.

Dr. Skillern says carotid stent procedures arepotentially advantageous for high-risk patients,such as patients with severe heart or lung disease,or those who had previous neck surgery.

Mr. Stevens was one such patient. Doctorsdiscovered during a test that his carotid arterywas becoming blocked. He said he had felt finebefore hand, but opted to have the new stentimplanted before his condition worsened.

“He feels really well now and he hasn’t hadany trouble from the stent,” said Mr. Stevens’wife, Lola.

Dr. C. Shawn Skillern

Understanding the Risks of Multiple Medications


Every month, the Community Memorial Health System has a variety of support andinformational meetings. Please verify meeting date and location with the contact per-son listed. Sometimes meetings may be cancelled or rescheduled. • Meetings at CMH, 147 N. Brent St., Ventura@COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY• Living with Cancer3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m., WednesdaysContact: Carrie Sundberg, LCSW805-652-5012• Prostate Cancer Support Group6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m., 2nd Thurs.Contact: Maylee [email protected]• Bariatric Surgery Seminar6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., SelectedMondays, call for more information.Contact: Nancy Barber805-648-2227, ext. 111• Bariatric Support Group7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., 3rd Thurs.Contact: Nancy Barber805-648-2227, ext. 111• Mended Hearts6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m., 1st Tues.Contact: Dick Hiser, President805-646-4636

• Better Breathers3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., 2nd Wed.Contact: Regina Stevens805-652-5346• Perinatal Education,

Maternity Orientation,Prepared Childbirth, Sibling Class

Call for more information. 805-658-BABY (2229)• Bittie Babies (Newborn-3 months)

or Bigger Babies (3-7 months)Various weekly discussions and breastfeeding support. No pre-registration required Contact: Stacy Herbert, 805-658-BABY (2229)• SuperSitter Courses, Pediatric CPRChildren 11 years and older, learn to be responsible babysitters andhow to administer CPR to an infantor child. 805-658-BABY (2229)

• Caregivers Support Group3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., 2nd Fri. Contact: Arlene Reynolds805-445-1181• Lymphedema Support Group6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., 3rd Wed.Contact: Melissa Stoen805-644-9620

• HICAP(Insurance Help for Seniors)1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., 3rd Mon.Contact: Katharine Raley805-477-7310• Hepatitis C Support Group6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., 1st TuesdayContact: Janeen Lyche, RN, FNP805-641-6536

office, consulting with you by phone from home,or anywhere else where there is access to theInternet, and give you up-to-the-minute results ofyour latest X-ray, and immediately view anyother medical imaging you’ve had.

And your doctor(s) don’t have to be com-puter whizzes to take advantage of such moderntechnology. All they need to be is affiliated witha hospital that’s on the cutting edge of patientcare. A hospital like Community Memorial,which, for nearly a year now, has been using a Picture Archiving and CommunicationsSystem (PACS): the modern technology that’sbeen giving physicians, diagnosticians, in fact, its entire community of caring reason to smile.

Indeed, Kirk Pieper, Director of DiagnosticImaging Services, is still smiling. “The feedback isall positive. It's really changed the way we dothings, the way we work, and all for the better”.

So is Dr. Charles North, head of Radiology.“I just love this thing. It’s a huge success.”

He should know. Three years ago, It tookabout six days from the time an X-ray was takento the transcribing of the story behind it.

Now, your doctor can get a voice clip of theinitial verbal impression made by a radiologistafter taking an X-ray along with a downloadedimage, within minutes.

Since the advent of medical imaging, doc-tors and patients alike have known that everypicture doesn’t just tell a story; it tells a pro-foundly important story. X-rays, ultrasounds,CAT scans, MRIs: When these forms of picture-

If a picture is, as the old saying goes, worth a thousandwords, what is an entire collageof images worth?

In the world of medicine, words like price-less and invaluable come to mind. Especiallynow that such images as X-rays, CAT scans,ultrasounds and MRIs may be readily accessedby your doctor or diagnostician with little morethan a click of a button, from virtually anywhere,while you wait.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technol-ogy, your doctor could be seeing you in his

Non Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDCommunity Memorial

Hospital of SanBuenaventura

Community Memorial Hospital of San Buenaventura147 N. Brent St.Ventura, CA 93003

taking first came on the scene, they were consid-ered technological wonders.

Today, we take such picture-taking abilitiesfor granted. Yet there is still much to wonder at.For instance, a PACS which gives your doctorsthe ability to look at all of these pictures at aglance, from wherever they are, in a near instant.

Today, as Dr. North says, “We can basicallyhelp solve problems, alleviate anxiety, changelives within minutes”.

Happy first birthday to CMH’s PictureArchiving and Communications System.

P A C SThe WholePicture

We’re Always Lookingfor Volunteers!

Auxiliary volunteers provide that special touch of comfort,compassion and assistance to patients and their families.

If you are interested in becoming avolunteer please call the Auxiliary:Community Memorial Hospital

805-652-5043Ojai Valley Community Hospital

805-646-1401, ext. 224

CARING Spring 2006

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